Savannah Charts her own course while studying, piloting on land and in the air, and helping visitors at Classic Surf shop in charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
While walking down Veteran’s Drive, the main, waterfront drag in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, your host realized that (a) she’s been out in the sun for waaaay too long without a hat and (b) she and her family were all without hats! Not eager to face a tacky tourist shop already filled with a barrage of cruise ship souvenir seekers, I was about to just go for shade and call it a day when suddenly, I recognized a logo I’d seen all over the bridges and byways of waterfront towns on the German coastlines—the one you see in the photo—hanging as a placard outside a nearby shoppe. I walked in, family in tow, and started seeing my favorite surfer brands hanging tastefully in a nicely appointed surf shop, a shop that reminded me of Lahaina in Hawaii, in fact—top shelf stuff and a real surfer vibe.
Before I could even orient myself to the lighting, our Clever Chica, Savannah, appeared, a blonde Ariel with a smile on her face and a bargain to be shared. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard you say you were looking for a hat. We have these, in your brand, on sale, if that helps.” She was not pushy; she was pleasant and genuine. As she started to hand me the hat that was, in fact, the brand I had mentioned just seconds before, I stopped her. “I know I said I wanted that brand, but what’s the one with that cool sailor’s logo?” I questioned. “Is it a German brand?” Still smiling, she noted that not only was it not German, the artist who designed the logo was right in the back; this was his store, and she’d never heard of the logo being shared in Europe. Both of us were surprised and somehow connected by this logo, ‘cause I love a logo, so we started talking like friends about fashion and goals and all things Chica.
I picked up two hats—excellent quality, by the way, and the best buy I’ve made in a long time on the road—way below what you’d expect for the quality. As I wandered through the store, I noticed the original Classic designs mixed amid and among famous brands, and the Classic designs often stood out in the group. Offering everything from wooden sunglasses made with the precision of a finely-crafted skateboard to rash guards that are breathable and affordable (when do you see those two things happen at the same time?!), the Classic brand caught my attention.
While I shopped, Savannah went to the back and brought the designer and owner to the front of the store to meet my family and hear the story about how we’d come to see his symbols being coveted in cities across Germany and France. And as Savannah went back and forth between me, the conversation, and helping my family find their sizes, she was also gingerly tending to the consistent flow of customers who came and went from the shop for the better part of an hour. She never missed a beat. She never stopped smiling, and she was warm and informed and interested in each person’s wants and experiences. Wow!
When I told her about this project, she, like every other Chica to date, was eager to help—eager to become a woman helping. Let us note that her boss, the owner and designer, was also willing to help support the project. We thank both of them, and we praise them for the good work and honest brand they bring to their island. Well done!
Doing many things is just part of who Savannah is, this bright, young college student who has lived on the island since she was five. When she’s not attending classes at the University of the Virgin Islands studying English and History (go, Chica, go!), she’s working at Classic or captaining boats up to 50 feet or — oh my goodness — piloting a plane! What an amazing renaissance woman— a Clever Chica who also agreed to be our first video interview. Now, that’s a brave lass, even by Ariel’s standards!
Thank you, Savannah, for tending to all who get the chance to meet you. Thank you for your warm, bright smile and your kind, sincere self. You are a Clever Chica with a broad horizon, and I can’t wait to see your potential realized.