Luxury is often defined by heritage, exclusivity, and timeless elegance. At HYDE® we embody this legacy, tracing its roots back to when the Baymen led by James Hyde and Mr. Hodge arrived on the coast of what is now Belize in 1638. These early settlers established Hyde & Hodge Co., venturing into logwood and mahogany extraction in a landscape fraught with colonial tensions and competing interests. Operating initially outside formal British regulation, they supplied valuable resources like mahogany and logwood that would come to adorn the drawing rooms, libraries, and salons of Europe’s most prestigious estates and the homes of America’s economic elite. These exquisite materials positioned Hyde & Hodge Co. as a conduit for luxury that reached the absolute peak of society, serving royalty, nobility, and the most discerning patrons of the time.
The Baymen’s early colonial enterprise played a foundational role in establishing Belize as a settlement, creating the foundation for what would eventually become a vibrant, multiethnic nation. Belize’s evolution from these early ventures to a full-fledged British colony and finally, a sovereign nation in 1981, stands as a testament to the resilience and cultural richness of its people. Today, we at HYDE® celebrates this legacy, bridging the historical and the contemporary, and sharing Belize’s heritage on the world stage as a luxury brand committed to both quality and identity. As we provided the Old World and “old money” with luxury, we now advance this heritage through fashion and lifestyle to meet the demands of our ever-changing, evolving world.
The Rise of Mahogany: A Luxury Wood with a Powerful Presence
Mahogany’s journey from Belizean forests to the most exquisite residences in Europe and America marks it as a material of unparalleled sophistication and class. This deep, rich wood was prized for its durability, elegance, and timeless appeal, becoming essential in crafting heirloom-quality furniture and exquisite paneling that adorned elite drawing rooms and grand reception halls. Hyde & Hodge Co.’s foresight in supplying mahogany to these regions ensured that this Belizean wood found its way into the finest settings, resonating with the tastes of those who curated environments for social influence and cultural power. Today, HYDE® leverages and continues this legacy, with mahogany embodying both our heritage, future, and the sophistication of global luxury.
Logwood: The Source of Fashion’s Eternal Color
Alongside mahogany, Belize’s logwood was integral to a broader colonial trade that supplied the essential dye behind the color black. While logwood was harvested in various regions throughout the Americas, Belize was a vital contributor to this trade. Black garments, dyed with the inky richness derived from logwood, were symbols of status and refinement in early European high society. By providing this valuable resource, Hyde & Hodge Co. helped supply the fashion industry’s growing obsession with black, connecting Belizean exports with luxury markets abroad.
Today, as a Black-owned heritage brand, HYDE GROUP honors this historical connection to the color black, a shade that remains the ultimate expression of sophistication in fashion worldwide. Our legacy within this broader colonial history of the logwood trade highlights our brand’s unique roots in the luxury commodities that shaped global tastes.
Hyde & Hodge Co. and the Multicultural Tapestry of Belize
The legacy of the Baymen’s enterprise is inseparable from Belize’s diverse cultural landscape. Established by an array of settlers, Belize became a cultural crossroads, shaped by African, Indigenous Maya, Garifuna, East Indian, and European influences. Today, HYDE GROUP reclaims this legacy, honoring our ancestors’ resilience and celebrating Belize’s Afro-Caribbean roots. Through our global luxury brand, we embrace our heritage and share Belize’s story with pride, embodying a narrative of strength, diversity, and transformation.
The Hyde Family Legacy: Ranching, Leather, and Expanding Markets
Beyond the forests, the Hyde family expanded into ranching, a venture that began with cattle raising and evolved into a chain of super and mini markets and meat shops across Belize. In the 1990s, the family ventured into leather production, crafting saddles and ranching gear, and today, we export leather hides from slaughtered livestock to Guatemala, where they are fashioned into high-quality products. With the establishment of the HYDE GROUP’s fashion arm, we now bring this heritage full circle, creating an in-house supply chain that spans our markets in North America, Europe, and new ventures across Latin America and the Caribbean.
A Heritage of Craftsmanship, a Future of Sustainable Luxury
As a 386-year-old Black-owned heritage brand, HYDE® embodies a rare blend of legacy and innovation. From mahogany & logwood, sugar, cattle ranching, chain retail, leather goods, technology, and now luxury fashion, we honor the craftsmanship and vision of our forebears while shaping a sustainable future. Our journey from the Baymen’s uncharted beginnings to a global luxury presence celebrates our heritage and the enduring strength of our materials. Through every piece of mahogany and every hue of black, we continue to carry forward a legacy that is as resilient and refined as our former colonial exports.
Comments