VI madras shortage impacts retailers, designers; VICA promises inventory consistency moving forward

ST. CROIX — The popular Virgin Islands madras is scheduled to be restocked at fabric stores this month following a resolution of manufacturing and distribution issues that has made the colorful and symbolic plaid fabric difficult to purchase without settling for unlicensed knockoffs available online.

VI madras, which was recently showcased by a local designer at a symposium in London, is a copyrighted design that is the intellectual property of the VI government, according to Act No. 8424, the 2021 law that established the official madras for the territory. The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, a division of the VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources, regulates the usage, distribution, and sale of the official print through a license with fabric stores but designers who sell items made from VI madras do not need a license.

Tasida Kelch, VICA executive director, acknowledged the lack of inventory for VI madras in fabric stores on St. Croix and St. Thomas due to high demand combined with initial supply-and-demand obstacles. “Since this is an original design, it has to be made,” she said. After experiencing problems with its original manufacturer, Kelch said VICA switched to another manufacturer that has assured her it can provide a consistent supply of the fabric. She said VICA expects to receive a new shipment of VI madras this month. “We’ve managed to work out all those kinks, and we are hopeful that the plans that we’ve now instituted will help, you know, to keep it in the stores and have it readily accessible to everyone,” Kelch, who would not divulge the location of either manufacturer, said.