“At independence time, which focuses on nationalism and things Dominican, you’ll find a lot of emphasis on wearing national wear,” Lawrence notes. “On Creole Day, one of the main events of the independence celebration, everybody is asked to dress in Creole wear, including schoolchildren, government offices and business places. People have responded to that for many years. People identify with it. They see it as something very Dominican, something to be proud of. Not just in Dominica, but in the diaspora as well. There are Dominican associations which organize various events that highlight national wear in various parts of the world.”