San Fran Voice

When I first heard about the Mission Indie Mart (through local vintage designer Dena Rose) it was a small affair held in the backyard of the founder’s Mission home. The mart is still in the Mission but it’s grown too large for backyards and has moved into its new space at 12 Galaxies.

What is it? It’s a place where you can go to check out the creative works of all different types of local San Francisco designers. Need new clothes? Fashion designers are on site with their stuff. Thinking that accessories are more along the lines of your immediate needs? Those will be there as well. You’ll also be able to find antiques and crafts and all sorts of off-the-wall stuff. And since Halloween is just days away, you might find that perfect strange thing you needed to compliment your not-yet-complete costume.

Even if you don’t find something to buy, you’ll probably have a good time. There will be local music and BBQ food and that terrific atmosphere that comes about when over forty different designers come together in one space with their creative energy. At least that’s what I’m counting on since I’m going to (fingers crossed) finally make it to this event for the first time since hearing about it months ago.

It happens on Sunday, October 28th at 12 Galaxies which is at Mission and 22nd St. It runs from noon to five. See you there?

Technorati Tags: san francisco, mission, fashion, designer, indie, event

As many of my regular readers already know, I spent the last few weeks back in my hometown. It’s always interesting going back home … for all of the reasons that going home as a grown-up means, of course … but also because it gives you such a refreshed perspective on your new home when you return. The first event that I went to after coming back to San Francisco was yesterday’s Capsule Design Festival in Hayes Valley. It was one of several events I’d considered for the weekend, including Lit Crawl and the Noe Valley Farmer’s Market and Festival. As usual, there were a number of different things to do here, things that involved creativity and art and that indescribable energy for life which I think is particularly unique to this area.

Did I love the Design Festival? Not particularly. It was crowded, which is great for the designers but difficult for actually seeing anything in order to buy it. But it was a good day. The sun was out. People dressed in unique fashions were milling around. I finally got to see some of the Hayes boutiques that I kept meaning to go see and hadn’t. And I was reminded of how interesting the world of fashion is here in San Francisco. We’re not known as any sort of fashion capital, but we have our own thriving fashion scene here with local designers and people who are interested in supporting local designers. I think, more than most places, fashion and art merge into one here. People walking down the street ARE art in this city.