The MRTHR Story

Based in Grand Cayman, MRTHR exists as a tribute to the colors, music, lifestyle and culture of the Caribbean West Indies. At MRTHR, we're tired of the same boring designs claiming 'originality' and 'authenticity' when you can find identical product for sale just around the corner. Not to mention how infuriating it is seeing Caymanian jewelry represented as cheap replica coins from a 1600 Spanish shipwreck. It was cool when it was original, but dem played out now! We're sick of stores scamming locals and tourists alike, with unethically sourced materials, lack of transparency in business, and crazy high prices, so we've decided it's time for our takeover. Cayman, we think our current jewelry is boring, and has lost the aspect of metalworking art. MRTHR exists not just a brand, but an ongoing project for local, handmade art that could only be defined by one genre, "statement art". With MRTHR, our products are fabricated entirely by hand, by local aspiring artists, from sketch, all the way up until we get to watch you don your first piece with us. Unique jewelry from the Caribbean, for the Caribbean. 

We are proud to use our platform as a voice for our community and other aspiring artists, and encourage anyone interested to contact us regarding what YOU want to see in Caymanian jewelry, and how we can turn your stories into art that Cayman really wants to support. Reach out to founder and head artist, Kinø, on whatsapp at (917) 855-9095 or through any of our company social medias and email.

KINØ

Chief Artist & Creative director

A prodigious artist hailing from Bermuda and Grand Cayman, Kinø's journey in the arts began at the age of 11 with photography, marked by winning a prestigious youth competition at the National Museum of Bermuda. Since then, his captivating work has garnered over 7.3 million views and acclaim. Currently studying at the United States' top arts-intensive high school, Kinø's artistic pursuits extend beyond photography, branching into his new passion of jewelry design and metalsmithing. Through his new jewelry company, MRTHR, Kinø seeks to promote ethical business practices in the Cayman Islands, while reviving the soul of art in the country's jewelry market through eco-sustainable craftsmanship. Kinø's artistic legacy is not just about aesthetics; but rather about sparking positive change and preserving cultural identity, through the art he creates.

Kinø's Photographic Art

Hear It From The Artist

Interview with Kinø for MRTHR 2024

What inspired the Summer '25 Debut Collection?

"To me, jewelry is an intimate art. I mean, you wear it close to your heart, literally. So to me I want to make this brand intimate with our community. For this first drop I was inspired by a few things. A local East-Ender named Dale, that I had the privilege of meeting and photographing alongside artist Jason Kennedy a few years back. He was covered in all these iced out chains [and] you could barely see his skin underneath. It was awesome. So I took inspiration from his look, as well as my own experiences growing up here, watching the explosively loud domino games up [in] West Bay and it just kinda spiraled and blew up into this storm of ideas that kept flowing."

What motivates you to continue with the MRTHR 'project' in Cayman?

"My motivation is to be an outlet for the other creative minds out there. Other locals that come up to me to share their ideas [for jewelry pieces] and stories, I want to make those a reality so they can smile and wear something that makes them feel seen. I've lived almost all my life in the Caribbean. Cayman is my home. Bermuda is my home. I want to help protect my home[s], whether it be the culture, the stories, the environment, or our waters; and I want [to] showcase it for the art it is."

Where does the word 'MRTHR' come from? Is it an acronym?

"Ha ha! No! Not an acronym. I get asked this quite often actually, especially when I was working on early development while at school in the [United] States. I think I got like a B- in my Graphic Design class for the logo, ha ha! It's a patois phrase. I think it's biggest use was in Damian Marley's 'Welcome To Jamrock' song intro, which every Caribbean kid knows almost religiously. And every time I'd play that song or [the] O.G [original] Ini Kamoze song, my American friends would try to jump in and end up confidently singing 'out in dem streets they call it murder!' which would vex me so much for some reason. 'TH' not 'D'. Merther. Murr-Thur. It's spelt M-E-R-T-H-E-R. We took out the 'E's because tourists always mispronounce Cayman as 'Cay-MEN' or 'Cay-MENS' too and so I just said f$!# it and removed the 'E's. It just felt right and stuck because it was authentic to me, and my experiences back home. Also... vowels suck."