The tiny flea market section of the two-day carnival like Madras Market that was held this February stands testimony to a rise in the thrift shoppers in the city. While crowds streamed towards the branded stalls, there was a small but equally interested crowd that picked up everything that was sold at the flea market section, leaving the sellers quite satisfied — jewellery, books, clothes — you name it. And with the Madras Market up for a second edition this weekend, the buzz around the event is getting louder and louder.
“This time too we have a small space earmarked for the flea market. Three hours will be allotted to each person to sell their used things and there are three slots — so there will be nine people in one day having a garage sale of sorts,” says Sarah Natasha, head of events at Full House Entertainment, the organiser of Madras Market.
While Sarah says that there is a slow increase in Chennaiites’ acceptance to flea markets and garage sales, she adds that not many come forward to buy second-hand goods. “We don’t get the sort of transit crowd that Goa or Bangalore get. And well, us Chennaiites are a little reluctant to buy personal items second-hand. But we are coming around on other things – like jewellery or furniture and things like that,” she says.
So what else is new at this edition of Madras Market? “We have 121 stalls in total, of which 15 will be stalls put by vendors from other cities like Bengaluru, Delhi and Pune,” she says. In addition, the carnival will also see a Sufi concert, going with the flavour of the Ramzan season.
(Madras Market II will be on from 11am to 10pm on August 10 and 11 at Wesley Grounds, Royapettah. Contact Team Madras Market at 9884040615 for details)