Artists & Fleas - Williamsburg Brooklyn Flea, Design & Vintage Market

Bringing Fashion Back to the ‘Burg

Ronen — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:14:39 +0000

They’re bringing it back to the ‘Burg.

This weekend brings a little something special to the mix as we welcome back 3 pioneering Brooklyn-based fashion designers to A&F — individuals who have been on the scene in Williamsburg and Bushwick for some time and are coming back for a spin through the market to show, share and get their latest collection pieces out there.

Brooklyn-based designer Jen Vanilla of Vanilla Medallions practices many art forms depending on the venue. Her graf-inspired work finds its home this Saturday in fluffy pillows that sneaker heads will instantly recognize, from the iconic (Nike Air Jordans) to the equally brill Jeremy Scott Wings. Of course, Vanilla has other tricks up her sleeve—including pillow-inspired jewelry—but you’ll have to check out her return at the market to find out what that’s all about. Saturday only

Vamps is designer Michael Calloway’s (pictured above) womenswear line from desconstructed, vintage and found objects that result in super avant garde, one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art. Think outsider art as fashion. Years ago he captured the attention of sweater designer Koos Van Den Akker (best known for his sweater designs worn by Bill Cosby) and Koos has served as a mentor and advisor to Michael. (Some linkage here about him). Vamps has been featured in Vogue (Italy) and Bullet Magazine and pieces have been sold at Beautiful Dreamers (Williamsburg), Malin Landeaus Select Vintage (Williamsburg) and Any Old Iron (LES). Saturday & Sunday

To call Joann Berman a designer would be short-changing the scope and approach that this NYC original brings to the world of fashion and design. Her fashion is art, her art is fashion and its roots are firmly in the world of deconstruction/reconstruction and then some. She’s no stranger to the New York street fashion scene and her bio and shows reads like a who’s who and what’s what to some of what has made this place thrive since the 1970s. She’s bringing some of it back to Brooklyn where magic happens. Saturday & Sunday

Merch for You & Your Mom

Ronen — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:29:01 +0000

Market mavens, take note. Though this might be a weekend for Mom, have we got killer cool merch from new designers, makers and vintage collectors coming to show.

Vintage Robot taps into 2 classics with cult followings with their line of apparel and accessories that pays homage to pre-R2D2 robots. Iconic and old-school, these hand-pressed one-of-a-kind t-shirts and custom robot magnets, pins, necklaces and earrings made from old televisions, phones, computers, and watches are legitimately gaga-worthy. Saturday only

BULU Nation is India-born, Kansas-bred artist Naseeb Kaur Gill’s earrings comprised of post-consumer plastic straws, thread and adhesives for a look that fuses some of this designer’s sense and sensibility of global grit with the American prairie. Saturday only

Vaalbara Designs has the quintissential gear for the carefree, urban hip and chic with a conscience. Their handmade bags (pictured above) meld and marry antique fabrics and vintage textiles, are constructed in LA and are equally at home at the beach, the backyard BBQ or your boho friend’s Bushwick crash pad. Sunday only

Croatia Vintage has a warm weather hook-up for vintage lovers with a wide array of women’s vintage from the 1920s to 1970s including dresses from the formal to the floral to the printed and the carefree. Dig through collector Caitlin Kortokrax’s vintage belts and accessories for some accent pieces for you and maybe even a token score for Mom. Saturday and Sunday

Who said bow ties are just for dandies? Everyone should own and love a bow tie. New up-and-comer Dap Kitsch makes it easy for you with designer Tyler Estes’ line of original, self-tie bow ties in a wide range of colors and patterns. They recently debuted at the Brooklyn Museum Garden Party’s pop-up to great fanfare. Sunday only

Dylan Johnson & Shelby Kanaly create and curate a kind of pop-up gallery of their own visual art with Dylan’s (a freelance photog for neighborhood-based mag Vice and blog Brooklyn Vegan) WhatIsDoJo, Giclée photography prints on wood and hand brushed steel and Shelby’s marbled skull prints and decorated animal skulls. Seeing is believing as both artists work plays at the intersection of natural organic material and patterned shapes – order in chaos, much like life itself. Sunday only

The Urban Art Collective is artist and curator James Goldcrown’s assemblage of urban art and urban inspired artifacts incorporating photography, original paintings and raw materials into these mixed media pieces and more. UAC is a reminder that good art does not need to match your sofa. Sunday only

Re-charge with some fine baking and tropical fruit fixes. The Chocolate Swirl is baker Lisa Bracigliano’s chocolate and bake shop that specializes in handmade chocolate truffles, brownie pops and double decker brownies. She indulges those who dare on Saturday. And last season’s fan favorite Captain Ron of TropPops brings back his frozen whole fresh fruit dipped in dark chocolate and served on a stick just in time for Summer.

Hey, Mister DJ: Anthony3000

Ronen — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:23:18 +0000

Since the early days of the market, bringing DJs to set the mood and keep the beat has been a touchstone of what the A&F shopping experience is all about. Over the years, we’ve had resident DJs who were neighborhood fixtures – Sasha (aka DJ Sport Casual) from the now defunct Grand Street cafe and bar the Lucky Cat, Rodney from Academy Records and Union Pool, DJ Nithya of the famed Kings of Karaoke. And the list goes on and on. Each brought his or her own blend of beats to the ‘Burg.

Our Saturday mainstay is DJ TruTones aka KevinAnthony3000. A native of St. Lucia and a sorta recent transplant from Atlanta, Kevin is a fiend for 1970s and 1980s funk, soul, R&B and Afrobeat. Until recently, he held down a steady gig at Bembe and now is the driving force behind Porch Fridays at the Southside joint, Bia.

Dig the dude and jump-start your Saturday night out with a soundtrack to your shopping every Saturday afternoon from 2-7pm at Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg.

5 Williamsburg-y Gift Ideas for Mom

Ronen — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:43:14 +0000

The playground taunt used to start off with Your Mama is… and things could get pretty nasty from there. But let’s put aside childhood bickering and get our game on to celebrate Mom. Slacker Mother’s Day shopping hook-up? We’ve got 5 gift ideas available at the market this weekend in Williamsburg depending on who your mama is.

For the Hot Mom: You’ve heard it a million times before: Your MOM? She could be your sister! You’ve seen the looks that your friends give her. Just say what everyone’s been thinking with the MILF necklace (pictured) from Metal Taboo. Other options include “Wino” and “Hot Mess.”

For the Collecting Mom: She loves to collect. But what does she collect, exactly? You really don’t’ know, but anything in multiples is a collection in the making. Peep the very collectable (and some are museum-worthy!) Bakelite bracelets from The Spooky Boutique. You just may have started a new collection obsession.

For the Bibliophile Mom: Your grammar isn’t ever up to her standards. She’s reading even when she’s not reading. Her library card is PLATINUM! Celebrate the book lover with a one of a kind book clock from Devin Kain of Love Hue Studios.

For the Crazy Art Lady Mom: She taught you how to spin pottery when you were still in diapers. She encouraged all your artistic endeavors, even if they all were the worst. She still paints/designs her own clothes/bedazzles denim vests. She loves to stand out. Pick up a pair of hand-dyed Scraps shoes by Evolving Habitat. No one at her craft fair silent auction committee meeting will have a pair. Guaranteed.

For the Pet-Loving, I-Wanna-Grandchild-Now Mom: She’s got a pet that never disappoints her, and she reminds you of it ALL THE TIME. Keep that surrogate grandchild (you aren’t having kids) warm and stylish with a collar or sweater from Bone Thugs NYC.

Your Weekend Trifecta

Ronen — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:10:48 +0000

Whether your weekend involves a Derby Party (with the requisite Derby pie, ‘course), some celebrating for Cinco or some gawking at the 5-Boro Bike Tour as it passes by on Kent Avenue this Sunday, we’ve got a whole lot of perfect accessorizing to make your weekend out a great one.

Hilo x Hilo means “thread by thread” in Spanish, and that’s exactly how Sari David constructs each unique piece of her thread-based art. Together with her business partner Soledad Guillera, Sari sources thread from all over the world and combines a variety of vivid colors into a single frame, resulting in an eye-catching composition. This will be Sari’s first time ever at a market as an art seller so props and a proper welcome are in order. Saturday only

Part Marie Antoinette, part Hello Kitty, Haruka Kosui’s Sunny Smell fashion-forward creations are 100% adorable. From headbands with candy-shaped poofs and lacy veils, to decorative candy hair clips with floral print, pearls, and pastel mesh wrappers, Sunny Smell will give your hair accessories a sweet little lift. Saturday only

Would you take heroin for bronchitis? Opium for gastrointestinal trouble? Back in the day, doctors commonly prescribed drugs that have since been blacklisted, and Anastasia Fokina is posing a challenge: take a closer look. Substances seen as helpful one day can be deemed terribly addicting & harmful the next. Through delicately-designed graphic tees, Anastasia and American Apothecary hope to spread that awareness and also get you looking good. Saturday & Sunday

Vera Vixeness is Native New Yorker Debbie Mangual’s passion project no doubt. Debbie, a former Middle Eastern dancer, brings her curated collection of blazers and boleros, ponchos, rompers and more inspired by and influenced by not only different cultures, but also good old rock ‘n roll. She’s also a headdress and jewelry designer, so we can’t wait to see what worldly surprises await us this weekend! Saturday & Sunday

Grace Turman Damien is a Connecticut-based artist with an interest in portraiture, but not like you’ve seen before. Right away, you’ll notice her attention to the depiction of movement and emotion. Just in time for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Grace is taking commissions for pop-art portraits, to give the whole family a colorful spin. Saturday & Sunday

Beads, beads, and more beads. That’s the driving force behind Elizabeth Snyder’s ELIZABETH44 beaded jewelry line. You’ll find fantastic one-of-a-kind pieces with precious and semi-precious stones and vintage and ethnic beads collected around the world. These bracelets come in every color in the world to step your arm party up to the next level. Saturday & Sunday

In New York, celebrity sightings happen all the time and part of the charm of A&F is that star-fuckers are a little lower key than elsewhere. But you best be on the look-out for A-list celebs when Hollywood in Charcoal rolls in, artist Jenn Martin’s Hollywood-inspired charcoal portraits of some of her favorite celebs. Girls, anyone? Oh, c’est tres Brooklyn. Saturday & Sunday

Brooklyn-bred artist Lenore Cohen is bringing her slow-down-and-take-it-all-in approach to art and the beauty that surrounds this weekend with her abstract, colorful, and detail-driven paintings. The works are gorgeous, and recently, Saks Fifth Avenue gave Lenore a five-month long solo show. Check out her works alongside Margalit Romano this Sunday only.

BOOM! We all know about chocolate-covered pretzels, but what about PB&J-, banana cream-, or mocha ‘spresso-covered pretzels? Fatty Sundays & Co. has a host of brow-raising flavors of hand-dipped gourmet pretzels (see photo), and since it’s Sunday, we see no reason not to indulge a little. On your way in or out of the bustling market or on your way to that lovely liquid lunch this Sunday, catch Allison Borowick Zmishlany and her sister, Lauren, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll let you in on their family’s snack secrets. Sunday only

Do the Derby, Brooklyn Style

Ronen — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:09:55 +0000

The 139th running of the greatest 2 minutes in sports happens this Saturday. In these parts, Derby Day is a great excuse for folks to play dress-up – as opposed to your average weekend in Williamsburg, right? Allow us to give the dudes and damsels a few hand-picked recommendations for looking dapper and dandy:

1) Vintage Victorian – Ricky Becker, chief proprietor of market-mainstay the Spooky Boutique has white linen on his mind. In addition to the vintage wedding gowns he’s lovingly restored just in time for wedding season, he’s brought a gorgeous crop of Victorian gowns that would look equally at home in the Clubhouse as they would in your Bushwick backyard BBQ.

2) For the Dandy - QP & Monty’s Ignacio Quiles (pictured above, left) opened up his West Village in 2013 to share some of his sage sartorial advice to the Manhattan set. After stints with A&F in Williamsburg and at Chelsea Market where he dressed and styled some of the hippest dudes (including superfly NYC chef Marcus Samuelsson), Ignacio’s set up permanent residence on Perry Street. He’s got everything a guy wants and needs for impeccable Sunday style.

3) Tie It Up – The guys behind Everett are tie-guy phenoms. They’ve been slowly and carefully carving out their niche on the bespoke accessories scene, marrying textures and patterns that are rich and whimsical for their ties, bow ties and pocket squares. Find their Spring 2013 collection online here.

Globetrotters Come to Brooklyn

Ronen — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:10:28 +0000

This weekend, vintage collectors and creators from places near and far descend upon the market.But don’t get too comfy — these free-spirited jewelry makers, fashionistas, and curators of cool will be back on the road come Sunday. Tick tock, the shop clock starts at 10AM tomorrow.

You may recognize Andrea Bocchio‘s jewelry line from past market stints or from local stores in Williamsburg, Park Slope, Clinton Hill and other neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Since the Fall, Andrea has been working it, bringing her merch to markets beyond the almighty NYC – places like Austin, San Francisco, Honolulu, and San Juan. Andrea expertly braids together linen, wood, metals, beads, and sometimes spikes to create colorful, one-of-a-kind mixed-media statement pieces. Saturday only

Southside Williamsburg native Grace Colon of Piel returns to the market with an amp’d up Spring line of holistic body products—soaps, lotions, body polishes, and lip balms — free of sulfates, mineral oils, parabens, phthalates, and propylene glycol, common but harmful chemicals that sneak their way into our bodies. Piel is always a crowd pleaser and Grace is always all smiles when she’s back so show her some love. Saturday & Sunday

High-fashion-model-turned-vintage-curator Carole Thompson adores fashion, but like many of us, she isn’t a fan of the astronomical price of couture and the devastating environmental toll that today’s fashion industry can involve. Luckily, with an impeccable eye for timeless, classic style, Carole rounded up enough inventory to open a brick-and-mortar store called Vintage Vixen in Charlottesville, VA. With the help of her daughter (who is currently globetrotting as a model) and two sons, Vintage Vixen offers something for everyone and she’s bringing it on the road debuting this weekend in Williamsburg. Saturday & Sunday

We love OG vendors — folks we first met in the early 2000s, the pre-flea days of Brooklyn, before the condos, when Verb was the only coffee joint in the nabe and you had to walk into the fridge at Tops for produce (some things never change). And Brooklyn-based designer Jen Vanilla is one of them. Her current brand Vanilla Medallions (see photo) specializes in fluffy pillows modeled that sneaker heads will instantly recognize, rom the iconic Nike Jordans to Jeremy Scott Wings. Of course, Vanilla has other tricks up her sleeve—including pillow-inspired jewelry—but you’ll have to check out her debut at the market to find out what that’s all about. Sunday only

Jersey City-jeweler Allison Snediker’s rescued hound, Banjo, is behind the Banjo and Bone name, but not all of Allison’s up-cycled and vintage pieces have the same twang. The Banjo and Bone line featured in New York Fashion Week last fall, not to mention in 37 West Elm storefronts and in international hotspots like London, Paris, Italy, and Israel. Once you see Allison’s fabulous line, you’ll too want to “set forth, travel and craft on.” Saturday & Sunday

Artists & Fleas is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in sunny Williamsburg at 70 N. 7th Street, just a hop, skip, and jump away from the Bedford L train stop.

A Girl Gone Wild for Guys (Underwear)

Ronen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:14:21 +0000

With a firm handshake, a wink and a smile, Vasumathi Soundararajan is unafraid to say it like it is. So when she brings her men’s line Ken Wroy back to Williamsburg this weekend, expect to hear her call herself Chief Underwearist and to do so without the slightest trace of irony. Though a newbie brand on the independent design scene, Ken Wroy has already made significant inroads on its way to being the Swatch Watch of men’s underwear. Vasu’s uber wit comes across not only in the brand’s motto (Underwear is the first thing you wear and the last think you take off…Give it the attention it deserves!) but in the fresh and out-of-the-box designs she’s introduced this season. Our personal favorite? An inverted view of the New York City skyline. You’ve got to get inside to see it the way you’re used to.

Check out, hang out and shop Ken Wroy this Saturday & Sunday, April 27th & 28th at Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from 10AM-7PM.

Cameos and Crowns and Going Bi-Coastal

Ronen — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:36:31 +0000

Our 1-week pop-ups at Chelsea Market inevitably seem to bring to surface tons of cool stories, chance encounters and inspiration tales for our sellers beyond just the stated purpose of playing show and sell. When Lynette Vertoch, owner and founder of Seattle-based Cameos and Crowns, first applied this past Winter, she decided that bringing her eclectic collection of aprons, pillows, cosmetic bags and flour sack towels wasn’t the only thing she wanted to bring to New York for the week. She was going to bring her son, Harrison. It was his Spring Break and coming to NYC for a week to work a show would mean an opportunity to hang out and reconnect with a place she had left behind more than 20 years ago before heading to the West Coast to launch her first business, Illume. By day, Lynette and Harrison were holding down their pop-up shop in Chelsea, making connections, getting market feedback and discovering something that many first-time A&Fers share: the feedback from customers at in-person markets is invaluable and often results in tweaks and pivots to their businesses. By late afternoon, they were out and about experiencing the best of New York. It’s one thing to come to NYC as a visitor and quite another to come as a visitor to work.

Lynette and husband and partner Marc have the entrepreneurial bug and we’re confident that their presence on the East Coast will be felt more and more in the coming year. Until then, follow them on Facebook and weigh in on your favorites within their collection.

Roadtripping a Vintage Wanderlust

Ronen — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:38:47 +0000

Want to know what the antidote for vintage-obsessed wanderlusters living in the Information Age is? It’s called get up and go and Coast-to-Coast Mobile Vintage seems to have figured it out. This past weekend, collectors Jaimee Dormer and her boyfriend Adam brought a cross-section of their handpicked women’s vintage clothing to Williamsburg to tease and kick off the start of their coast to coast road trip. The couple recently remodeled a 1970s Serro Scotty camper and turned it into a mobile vintage bazaar complete with a teepee as a dressing room! Follow their exploits as they hunt, pick, wander and sell this Spring and Summer.