Nancy Osborne, the founder of Jack Blue Handbags is the ultimate designer.  She has worked in wide range of areas of fashion design: apparel, jewelry, shoes, which is evident when you look at her handbags.  She originally trained as a clothing designer at the University of Nebraska getting her BA in Textile Clothing and Design before moving on to Cordwainers College in London for another degree in Footwear and Handbag Design. She was also a jewelry designer for five years around the same time.  

After London, she moved to Southern California in 2003 and started Jack Blue Handbags.   Jack Blue is not just any handbag company. It is the culmination of her experiences as a designer.  Using classic shapes and working with unique materials such as python, texture hornback leather, she often juxtaposes found objects such as old keys-coins as metal hardware.   The result is a one of a kind, unique and fresh point-of-view unlike any other. And if that weren't special enough, each bag is cut, stitched, and put together by Nancy herself.

Jack Blue has been in NYC since 2007.  Her handbags are appreciated all over including a growing list of celebrity clients which includes Naomi Watts, Madonna, Paris Hilton, Jillian Barberry, Tyra Banks, Nick Cave and Dennis Hopper.  With her connections and wholesale business growing and her custom clients, Nancy plans to stick around New York for a while.

Jack Blue is at The Market NYC at 268 Mulberry Street on Saturdays and Sundays.

"You give the guy more, when you design for the girl," explains Claudia Ochoa, Founder and Creative Director of CLO Intimo, a lingerie line that she launched in 2003. Originally from Medellín, Colombia, Claudia started CLO after working for many years for the ready-to-wear fashion houses in Columbia. She believes designing lingerie should be for and about the woman, not the man. "When it's designed for the man, it feeds into a woman's insecurities and men will see that," she says.

CLO creates feminine, flattering lingerie influenced by the sophisticated modernity of the New York woman, while maintaining the passion, color and sensuality of her South American roots. CLO is all about Claudia. It has beauty, strength, confidence, and passion, which all happen to be important elements of her line. In addition, she is ambitious vowing to muscle her way into the upper echelons of the lingerie world as she says "one pair of lace panties at a time."

CLO sells at The Market NYC at 268 Mulberry Street on Saturdays.

Inspired by the architectural ideal of form follows function, Arza Design has created a line of handbags that truly has an architectural flavor with its clean, strong lines and simple shapes.  Even her name, Arza Gilad sounds and feels a bit architectural.  Adhering to the old adage that less is more, she eschews the notion that the more you add to something the better it becomes.  She doesn't overdesign, overmake, or overthink anything: "Whatever you do in life you need to know when to stop," she says. 

After studying Textile Design in Tel Aviv, Arza moved to New York and immediately started working in the fashion industry.  Like a lot of independent designers with the entrepreneurial spirit, Arza wanted to branch out on her own and "work for me and not for others."  She started Arza Design in 2002 and has been thriving ever since selling to stores all over the USA and some stores overseas.  As one of the original designers when The Market NYC first started, she can still be found at the back, you can't miss her.  Just look for her signature, US Patented Diamond Shoulder Bag (shown above). 

Liane Okamitsu, the woman behind Liane By Design began designing her unique line of beautiful, hand-crocheted jewelry in 2003. In just six years, she's been able to take her craft to a great place.  "I've brought the business to a new, hopeful, and exciting level, working harder than ever, but happier than ever," she says.

But Liane's road to success as a jewelry designer started differently from the traditional path of most other designers.  A successful woman's wear designer in the Garment District of more than 25 years, Liane was diagnosed with cancer in 2002.  After finishing her treatments, she became cancer free but felt uninspired to go back to the urban jungle, which didn't seem to hold the same exciting energy as it had in the past. 

She gave it all up and took an art therapy course in jewelry making at The Creative Center, an organization for people living with cancer.  She credits The Center for changing the direction of her life and "pays it forward" by contributing a portion of net sales to the art therapy and cancer groups that helped her through her illness.  Fast forward six years she is happy, healthy, and with a business that is doing well despite a down economy. She has always taken inspiration from a quote that serves as the theme of Liane By Design: "Just when the caterpillar thought it was the end of the world it turned into a butterfly."

Liane By Design began selling at The Market NYC in 2003. Since then she has built up a following who come specifically to see her and her new creations. Her technique of crocheting fine silver or 14 karat gold-filled wire and intermingling Swarovski crystals, pearls, or other stones produces pieces that are sumptuous, yet light, intricate yet uncomplicated. But you know to truly appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of her pieces, you have to see them in person.

Liane By Design sells in stores across the United States, overseas, at designer and craft shows, as well as The Market NYC at 268 Mulberry Street on Saturdays and Sundays.

Straddling line between DIY and urban chic, Umsteigen (pronounced oom-schtai-gen) is hard to sum up. The limited edition hoodies, shirts, and dresses are casual, easy-to-wear, fun, playful with an overall feeling of joy and a dash of nostalgia.  Let's just say it looks and feels right.  But you know, I think the Umsteigen style is all about owner/designer, Susanne Schubert's passion and global background.  Born in Berlin, high schooled in the US, and then university in Montreal has given her a point-of-view that looks and feels uniquely not American (not that there is anything wrong with American).  Ameripean?  Euromerican?  Whatever the case, we just love Umsteigen!

Umsteigen started in Montreal in 2003 as a kind of experiment.  After producing some samples, she got into a few stores locally and then "it kind of just exploded and stores kept ordering more and more," she says.  When she moved to New York in 2004, she continued developing the brand selling wholesale and the following year started selling at The Market NYC.

Working out of what used to be a knitting factory (with a great view) in Williamsburg, she finds inspiration for her designs.  Doing four collections a year, transitioning between seasons, keeps her designs fresh, interesting, and continually evolving, not to mention really busy.  "I work intuitively.  I see what looks good.  I continue doing them (the designs) till I get bored. Then I change."  New styles, new designs, come out of her studio every few months. Umsteigen recently introduced a men's line last Spring and it's been a great addition to the collection.

Umsteigen sells at The Market NYC at 268 Mulberry Street on Saturdays and Sundays.

It will be TGIF at The Market NYC until the end of the year. Starting Friday, July 17th, The Market at 268 Mulberry will also be open on Fridays! This extra selling day is great news for both designers and shoppers. "A lot of designers wanted to have another day to sell their products and with a lot of New Yorkers going away on weekends, it's sometimes impossible to make it on Saturdays and Sundays," says Alex Pabon.

Over on the west side, it looks like a lot of the residents in the Village have gone to the Hamptons or to their summer shares on Fire Island so The Market at 490 Hudson will be closed in July and August and will reopen in September. But don't despair many of the vendors you know and love will be migrating east for two months including Over the Moon Jewels and Atlantis Jewelry.

Just a reminder, The Market NYC at 268 Mulberry will be operating its regular Saturday and Sunday schedule this July 4th weekend. Open Saturday and Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Thanks for shopping independent.

Nina Valenti, Founder and Designer of naturevsfuture, doesn't want to be referred to as just an eco apparel or organic designer.  These catch phrases have been key to the recent Eco marketing/branding movement.  "To me, aesthetic comes first and I'd rather be known as a designer who consciously uses organic and sustainable fibers and materials and local production," she says. Using fabrics like organic cottons and wools, hemp, soy, bamboo, seacell® (seaweed), lyocell (wood pulp), Ingeo^TM (created from corn), along with recycled and technological fabrics such as Polartec® (made from soda pop bottles or industry waste), she creates pieces that have a futuristic edge yet are inherently classic.  Her collection has a strong blend of European and Asian flavors and a striking architectural feel balancing line and texture.  And with the current trend in "Slow Fashion" which emphasizes classic styles, multi-season versatility, and low volume production vs the "Fast Fashion" of one season, disposable garments,  we think naturevsfuture is here to stay.

After graduating from Parsons, Valenti began designing streetwear in the industry.  Six years later, she decided to start  naturevsfuture, a passion which she refers to as "artistic expression of organic futurism via clothing." Since then, she has become a staple at The Market NYC on Mulberry Street.  In the last few years she has also seen her wholesale business grow along with her brand, naturevsfuture, becoming more well-known.  "I've been incorporating organic and sustainable fibers in each collection before the whole green marketing movement became mainstream,"  So now that everything from potato chips to t-shirts to bedsheets are being marketed as organic, what does she think of the whole green bandwagon?  "It's a good bandwagon to jump on if what they are marketing is true. It also creates more awareness and has a positive effect on our environment."

Naturevsfuture is sold in stores across the United States and Canada, with some stores in Europe and Japan.

For those who have been suffering withdrawal, don't despair.  After a couple of weeks of special events at St. Patrick's Church (Happy 200th Anniversary!), The Market NYC returns to its regular schedule this coming weekend (yes, Saturdays and Sundays).  That's good news for both designers AND shoppers.  The market expects a full house of independent designers on both Saturday and Sunday just in time for Father's Day and Spring shopping.  For the best in independent apparel, accessories, jewelry, and more, check out The Market NYC - 268 Mulberry Street, open 11am-7pm. 

The Market NYC - 490 Hudson Street will also be back to its regular Saturday schedule after a break last Saturday.  490 Hudson Street is open on Saturdays, 12pm-7pm.  Come early for the best selection. Shop independent design!

"No good music was harmed in the process." This is what Patrick "Monkey" Chirico wants to assure everyone who stops by their table.  Their unique brand of accessories all made with reclaimed records have been a staple at The Market NYC the last few years.

In 2004, Chirico, along with business partner and fellow FIT grad, Brian Farrell founded Wrecords by Monkey (WBM).  Since then they have sold over 60,000 units (all handmade) of their signature bracelet.  However, this Brooklyn-based company is much more than just their signature piece.  They have branched out to include necklaces, earrings, rings and t-shirts, all inspired by bringing together music, fashion, art, and recycling! Not content on resting on their laurels, Chirico and Farrell are also really committed to their community collaborating with other local artists, photographers, and graphic designers on new designs, as well as working with local organizations, such as Make-a-Wish foundation, LIFEbeat, the S.T.O.K.E.D. Foundation, and Girls Equality of Brooklyn.

Together this designing duo have made WBM ubiquitous in NYC.  If you look hard enough (try the L, J, M, or Z trains), you'll probably see someone sporting one of their pieces.  But if you still haven't seen one, you know where to find them.