THE SOAP MAY be simply wrapped and unscented. The bags may be roughly sewn from not the finest fabrics. But they're handmade by local crafts people and artists, and display the individual quirks of their creators. And it's that do-it-yourself spirit behind such products that a new flea market due to open on Sunday aims to promote.
The monthly market, which will be set up in the Island School car park off Borrett Road in the Mid-Levels, is the brainchild of former marketing executive Tarlan Amigh.
An admirer of handmade products, she wants to give priority to vendors who have a hand in making what they sell by setting an affordable HK$600 fee for a stall space.
'It's contrary to Hong Kong's [trend of] instant gratification and mass production,' she says. 'My mother used to sell things at the local market [in Australia]. It was great for her as a creator because it gave her a sense of community.'
Amigh hopes the market will become a pleasant alternative for residents to spend a few hours on a Sunday, providing a place where they can pick up some unique pieces and chat with friends while enjoying interesting food. It's a great way to bring people together, she says.
Rather than compete with existing markets, Amigh views her venture as a complementary effort. The market will bring together more than 30 vendors from across the city and feature mostly handcrafted goods. These range from organic dog biscuits, children's clothing and embellished denim jackets to organic skin-care products to glass jewellery and table ware.