Soho Flea Market 2013

Design and lifestyle blogger, Geraldine Tan visits the Soho Flea Market and shares her stand-out stall holders!

Today, after work, I was determined to have a daughter-mother day. Especially since my dear daughter had only just returned from her one week holiday to Mallorca with her best friend and family.

We decided to explore the Soho Flea Market together. This is an annual Summer market selling vintage furniture and new designs in London’s Dean Street. The weather was looking up. Summer had arrived at last !

My daughter’s eyes lit up when she saw the Meringue Girl’s stall. The stall was run by Alex and Stacey, both trained chefs who have catered for major celebrity clients like Vogue and Alexander Mc Queen.

The Meringues came in a range of infused flavours such as Pistachio/Rosewater, Lavendar, Passion fruit, Raspberry, Lemongrass/Ginger, Matcha and coconut.

My daughter had an Ultimate Eton Mess which comprised of the meringues combined with fresh strawberries, vanilla cream, coulis and freeze dried raspberries. It was so delicious, she had a second helping.

The next stall that caught my eye was Roam which sold bespoke 100% Scottish cashmere blankets and knitted accessories.

We bought the blue bear and pink bird, after feeling how soft and comforting they were. The blankets were also heavenly.

As we strolled down the street, there were amazing bursts of vibrant colours. I love how these shades of blues and greens combine to stunning effect.

If you are looking for a colourful floral lampshade, then The Baobab Tree is the place to visit.

Set up by Heidi Awford, these bespoke pieces of home furnishings are made from collected vintage fabrics dating from the 1950s onwards.

I love signage and typography, so was instantly drawn to the Something Or Other stall. The clean cut lines of the black and white perspex alphabets above would be perfect for a Contemporary Scandinavian interior.

One of the vintage letters above would be perfect for styling a corner or used to create an interesting vignette.

These ties from Emma Ashford were so colourful and fun, I simply had to take a shot. They are designed by Emma Fenton Villar.

Hope my husband doesn’t read this, as my daughter has purchased the yellow Rosie Lea Goldfish silk tie with the teapots for Father’s day.

Well, my dear daughter didn’t leave the market empty handed. She got the Bear sweatshirt above from a wonderful brand Monster Threads that we so happily discovered. The designer for this item is Jan Avendano, a Canadian graphic designer from Toronto.

Monster Threads is an Australian art print apparel label. The illustrations for their clothing are created by a carefully curated group of leading Australian and international artists.

My son got the T-shirt above, designed by Patricio Betteo, an illustrator from Mexico City.

The prints from Eight Bear by Katie Viggers were also one of our favourite finds. I couldn’t decide between the bear or the bird print but finally settled for the bear. Which one do you like?

These blocks by Eight Bear are so beautiful. I think too beautiful to play with. I would display them proudly on a shelf. This is the prototype, they will be produced for sale in the coming weeks.

I hope you have enjoyed following us on our jaunt through the soho flea market. I can’t wait to go again next year. The great weather was the icing on the cake.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.x

Geraldine Tan, visit her blog, Little Big Bell.

LONDON has lots of fab weekly markets, click here to discover them.

See the I Love Markets events calender to see upcoming special market events!   

P.s, check out Made In Chelsea stars, Caggie Dunlop and Proudlock both stalling! 

 

Clerkenwell Vintage Fair

Yesterday, I Love Markets attended the Clerkenwell Vintage Fair at The Old Finsbury Town Hall. Now, being a lover of vintage clothing, this place resembled some sort of heaven. Situated in the large and very extravagant town hall, it was the perfect place to house all of these amazing clothes. I was astonished by the variety of products up for grabs. All kinds of clothing sourced from the 1920s up to the 80s, and mostly in very good condition. My only problem was I tend to get attracted to the 1940s clothes, where the women were evidently much smaller than today!  

Beehive was there selling 40s style dresses! 

 Vintage tea dresses from the 1930s & 40s and 50s were the main attraction, with hats; fascinators; gloves and jewellery available also. One of the stalls carried vintage Chanel; Pucci; Hermes and Ossie Clarke. Although way out of my price range, I did enjoy snooping around and admiring these well kept treasures. 

5-6-7-8 Vintage was at the fair selling her beautiful hand picked vintage clothes.

My favourite aspect of the day, was seeing a tailor/alterer have her own layout. This is such a good idea, as I find the only problem with vintage clothes is that they always need a bit of altering to get them fitting exactly how you want them.

In the back of the venue, there was a tea room set up with freshly baked cakes and scones. A lady dressed in her 50s gear, sung old fashioned tunes, whilst everyone enjoyed their cups of tea. 

I would definitely recommend anyone who loves vintage clothes/accessories to give the next fair a visit. It has been probably my favourite fair so far, and I came away with two dresses and a blouse! 

Discover London's best vintage markets at I Love Markets!

If you build it, they will come?

So what makes a good market and what does a good market need to ensure success? I've been prompted to write this post after witnessing a few flops in recent months and it's always a great shame for the sad looking traders who have given it a go. The sellers are important, but even with desirable products for sale, if you cannot attract the buyers then your market will have a short shelf life.  

Markets are so hot right now, and there are new and exciting ones popping up everywhere, but as a trader how do you decide which markets to say YES to? To avoid getting burned here's our trade-safe checklist which should assist you in choosing wisely. Read!

The I Love Markets Trade-Safe Checklist:

How long has the market been promoted for?
A good market organiser will announce the market date and start to invite stall holders way in advance of the actual market event. If the market organiser is established, maybe 4 weeks before acceptable, but usually i'd say at least 6-8 weeks is much safer!  

Does the market have a strong online presence?
Any serious event organiser will recongise the importance and value of the online world in promoting their markets. Check is there a Facebook Page, twitter, if so how many followers do they have? Have they posted the event on sites like I Love Markets?

Does the market offer something different?  
 For me a good and successful market offers not only excellent produce for sale but also an excellent market experience. Visiting markets is just as much about absorbing the market culture as much as it is about shopping. A market's "buzz" can influence and indulge you're shopper's hungry eye. Also, something different means people will naturally be interested in attending and the press more inclined to publicise it.

Where is the market located?
Achieving the right market chemistry is a hard task. It relies on having both amazing produce with enticing stall holders and also passing trade to make the market thrive.  
A successful market is a living and breathing entity and passing trade is the like the blood needed to keep it alive. Ideally the market needs to be situated either close to a tube, near a popular shopping area or some other reason why there is likely to be a naturally good footfall.

Who are the market organisers?
We're not suggesting you hire a private investigator but it won't harm you to ask a few questions. How long have they been running markets for? Did they used to sell at markets themselves? (if yes, you know they have some expereince and knowledge) Is this their first event or are they experienced in organising other types of events?

What do you get for your money?
If the market is new then it might be fair for the event organiser to offer you a special deal on stalls whilst they build it's popularity. Don't be afraid to barter especially if you're signing up for a few dates. Generally it's safer to see how the first one or two dates go before paying up for longer stints.

Who are the traders?
Don't be fooled by sales lines like "last few stalls remaining." You have the right to know how many traders are already signed up and if that turns out to be incorrect then you have a good claim to make in getting your money back!

Which other markets/events is it in competition with?
It's always worth checking what other markets are running on the same date, in the immediate area. Will this affect the footfall? 

We hope that this assists you. Don't let your descision feel like a gamble. Play-safe and trade-safe with this check list!
 
For an up to date list of market events in London, click here to subscribe to our mailing list!

Best wishes,
Katie Ingham
www.ilovemarkets.com

Savvy shoppers head to market!

During hard times there really is no better place to shop than at your local markets and that’s where all savvy shoppers should be heading. In my local Sainsbury’s Local they charge me 45p for an apple, down Chapel Market or Brick Lane I can buy a whole bowl full for just £1 and it doesn’t mean quality is compromised either! 

 = 

The price of food has rocketed in supermarkets, but in comparison you feel the squeeze a lot less at the market and prices don’t seem to have increased by the same degree. On Friday I bought two average quality hollow fibre pillows for just £6 from Chapel Market in Islington, London, I don’t think even Primark can compete with that!

The week before I bought a fantastic silk warehouse dress for just £3 from a Portobello street seller on Friday. Not only did it help out a local trader, it also kept me off the high street and saved me from spending £30+ on a new dress that I’d probably only wear twice.

"Shopping at markets fulfils your fix and you don’t get guilt pangs afterwards" 

I’d advise any shopaholic to hit the market next time rather than the High Street and see if you can achieve the same. Look at this gorgeous DKNY skirt i bought at a Brick Lane sample sale, only £10!!

Not only will you buy more for your money, but you’ll also have a cleaner conscience. Getting ripped off on the high street makes you angry!

Another important point worth mentioning is that some traders at design and fashion markets like Spitalifields Market or the Sunday –Up on Brick Lane will also sell their products on the High Street but at a much higher cost. Yesterday I spoke to a stall holder from Celebrity Mirrors. He was selling his lovely compacts at the market for just £10, Harrods are selling them for £25. I cannot encourage people to do this enough!

If i haven’t convinced you yet, here are:

ILM's 5 top reasons why you should head to a market near you!

1. Shopping at markets supports the livelihood of local, real people, which means you’re giving something back to your community.
2. Markets are cheaper. You can find the same stuff as on the high street but at a fraction of the cost.
3. Markets offer an enjoyable and unique shopping experience. Embrace the culture! 
4. Take a bite to eat. How sick is everyone of Prêt a Manger, McDonalds, Eat, bla blab bla -try something different at your local market 
5. Fulfil your need to shop and have a clean conscience!

All you need to do is find out which market to head to? Roman Road, Chapel Market Islington, Leather Lane Market, Petticoat Lane, Camden Markets, Portobello/Goldthorpe Rd, Old Spitalfields, Greenwich, Brick Lane, Broadway Market to name a few, you really are spoiled for choice!