DURHAM, NH- Despite the 85-degree heat, a patio at the corner of Madbury Rd was filled with tents for a pop-up maker’s market this past Saturday, Sept. 9. The market, which was the first to be held since the beginning of the University of New Hampshire (UNH)’s fall semester, was co-hosted by local businesses Ceo’s Gelato Bistro and New Moon.
According to Krystal Pirini, the owner of New Moon, the timing of the event provided an opportunity to boost awareness of small businesses and sustainable fashion. She explained how hosting the event less than a week after U-day was planned to promote both New Moon and the artists at the market, some of which were newcomers to the Seacoast maker’s community.
For local artist Caroline Yates, an undergraduate student at UNH, the market on Saturday was the third she had been to. As a potter, she feels that markets like these give her the opportunity to continue pursuing art.
“It’s easier to want to spend time and money on my art when I can sell it and make that money go back into this hobby that I really like,” she explained. “[It’s] an expensive hobby to have.”
For other artists, the opportunity to promote sustainable fashion drew them to the market. Lori Morse, the creator of Revival Jewelry Studio, described her interest in reusing materials through her recycled resin jewelry.
“If I can reuse something and give it a second life, I feel like it’s better for the environment,” said Morse.
Still, some of the attendees felt there isn’t enough awareness of sustainable options in Durham.
“I just don’t know what people really think about sustainable fashion and what they have a picture of in their mind,” said Molly Flagg, the creator of Good Planet Apparel. Flagg believes part of why young adults contribute to the fast-fashion industry could be a lack of understanding of its effects. She explained that she brings her upcycled collections to maker’s markets to show that sustainable lifestyle changes are an option.
“It’s not that people aren’t aware, it’s more that they don’t know about it,” she added.
Pirini echoed this point. According to her, the rise of fast fashion, especially in college towns like Durham, can create an excess of clothing that lacks the opportunity to be sold second hand.
“We’re getting tons and I love that, that’s a really good problem to have, but part of the event is helping us be known and helping us build out client base,” she explained. “The more we sell, the more we can take, the more money we can make for our customers and the more that doesn’t go in the landfill.”
Pirini hopes the event will cause students to consider buying secondhand or local more often and plans to host more markets in the future for this reason.
“The more we can share, the better,” said Pirini.
