How Bahama Handprints Masked A Nation In Color

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – It’s hard to believe it’s been five years when COVID-19 hit, a time where fear and uncertainty swept through every corner of the country.

In those early days, masks were hard to find, people were anxious and businesses were unsure.


However, for Bahama Hand Prints, hope started with a single photo shared in a soccer group chat.

Alannah Van Olsen – Owner, Bahama Hand Prints

“We had tracy, who’s upstairs still, and I said: Tracy, why don’t you try to make a mask? I’ll send it to a few mom groups, maybe it’ll keep everybody working for a little bit,” she said.

Those few masks? They exploded. Her inbox? Crashed.

“Its like the lesson of life of don’t put anything on social media that you don’t want to go viral,” Olsen said.

Soon Bahama Hand Prints became one of only two government-authorized mask suppliers, and the orders kept coming.

It was just screens, fabric, and the sound of machines sewing color into chaos.


Through it all, they can still find laughter and pride in helping the nation through one of its most difficult times.

Leslie Williams – Supervisor, Printing & Art Department, Bahama Hand Prints

“Very very proud, I felt a sense of pride that I was able to be in the right place at the right time,” Williams said.

In one of the darkest times, Bahama Hand Prints gave us something boldly Bahamian to hold onto.