Mark your calendars for May 2010. That's the day a new book, titled Markets of New York City: A Guide to the Best Artisan, Farmer, Food, and Flea Markets drops. This new guidebook by Karen E. Seiger and published by The Little Bookroom features a variety of different markets including a great writeup on The Market NYC. Several of our own The Market NYC designers are also featured. Check out an excerpt from the book:
"The Young Designers Market is an important incubator in the New York fashion world. Founded in the fall of 2002, the market was originally inspired by the Henri Bendel concept of showcasing multiple new designers in one location, and is housed in the youth center gymnasium of the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Nolita—a humble location for the wealth of talent to be found there.
The designers sell handmade jewelry, hats, and a wide variety of handbags. There is women’s and men’s clothing, much of it avant-garde and creative yet wearable, as well as shoes, boots, and sandals. The best part is that you are buying these items directly from the designers themselves, most of whom create and produce the pieces right here in New York City. Prices are generally wholesale, which usually translates into a 40–60% discount off retail prices, sometimes more.
You will undoubtedly rub shoulders with New York’s fashion trendsetters and trend spotters. Here, models, actors, stylists, and journalists get the jump on upcoming fashion designers and directions. Many, but by no means all of the designers are unknown. You might see Tina Fey wearing a dress from Nature vs. Future, or catch a runway show of Tom Sohung’s circle dresses at Fashion Week. Designers enjoy coming to this market because it allows them to talk with their customers and to learn what other designers are thinking about and working on.
Hundreds of shoppers visit the market each weekend. The summers are a great time to come to the market because most New Yorkers go out of town on the weekends. During November and December, there is a wonderful atmosphere for holiday shopping. If you want to send your favorite fashionistas over the moon, select their gifts at this market.
Some of the designers who have caught my eye include:
k* Shoes (www.kstar-nyc.com) Designer Keiko Hirosue’s k* (pronounced “K-Star”) designs are made for people (like New Yorkers, for instance) who want to look and feel good as they walk all over town every day; in other words, stylish yet comfortable. The Diva Thong is a stunning patent leather flat sandal that comes in coral and beige. You’ll turn heads when you walk down the street wearing the k* gladiator sandal. Gabrielle Union is a regular client and Lily Allen picked up a pair of Glory Booties, suede ankle boots with a vividly colored silk lining, which she wore in a Bust magazine photo shoot.
Digby & Iona Jewelry (www.digbyandiona.com) Digby & Iona jewelry collections have a decidedly romantic eighteenth-century feel, yet the pieces are quite modern and edgy. Wanderer in a Sea of Fog is a gorgeous line of nautical-themed items, including a leggy octopus ring and the Lost Love Compass. The Hunter and the Hunted collection has a 14 Point Stag Ring and a Crossed Rifle Necklace. The iconic Inspector Closeau (sic) mustache necklace has been featured in Nylon magazine. Digby & Iona pieces can be found in shops in North America, Australia, and Europe.
Charm NYC Hats (www.charmnyc.com) You can’t be a hipster without the hat. Ume and Nicholas Taylor, designers and owners of Charm NYC, can help you find one. The classic Nicolini Fedora is unisex and a mainstay in any wardrobe. The retro Newsboy comes in a variety of patterns and fabrics, from houndstooth to pinstripe, and wool to linen. The saucy Three Buckle Beret and the charming Wild Rose are perfect for a chilly winter walk in the park.
Arza Handbag Design (www.arzadesign.com) Arza handbags combine beauty and function. They are handmade locally using soft Italian leather in both classic colors and metallics. The patented circular handle makes all of these bags—be it a wristlet, clutch, or a large shoulder bag—easy and comfortable to carry. The bags’ rounded geometric shapes and pretty fabric linings make them recognizable as Arza originals. Arza’s designs are carried in boutiques throughout the U.S., as well as in Ireland and Denmark.
Nature vs. Future (www.naturevsfuture.com) Clothing designer Nina Valenti launched her Nature vs. Future label in 2002. She creates her designs with the environment in mind, choosing organic, sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable materials, including organic cottons and wools, as well as fabrics made from seaweed and wood pulp. The garments, which sell in boutiques around the world, are notable for their sexy cutouts, edgy angles, and flattering shirring. The organic cotton Rebel Dress has been featured in Italian Vogue.
CLO Studio Lingerie (www.clostudio.com): Claudia Ochoa’s sumptuous lingerie is delicate yet carefully engineered to provide support. This designer’s collections are carried in more than one hundred boutiques in the U.S., including Luxe Lingerie in Beverly Hills, Peek A Boo in Aspen, and Coup de Foudre in Washington, D.C. She brings extra pieces from tradeshows to the Young Designers Market each weekend where you might just be lucky enough to pick up a one-of-a-kind piece."
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