THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Everyone dreams of an escape from their office cubicles on the weekend. Three young minds, Bhavya Babu Mathew, Leah Rachel Abraham and Anz Elizabeth Easaw, discovered this niche and filled it in with something merry for Kochiites.
Inspired by Delhi’s Dilli Haath and Bengaluru’s Sunday Soul Sante, their two-day flea fair, On Flea.k, aims to create a space for the convergence of shopping, art and music. Exuding ideas of women empowerment, about 98 per cent of the total 40 vendors that the organisers have roped in, are female entrepreneurs.
“We’ve also provided complimentary space to two outfits—Bodhini (a movement for violence against women) and Tabitha Crafts (an endeavour helping women earn through handmade buyables),” says Bhavya, as we ask the trio what to expect at the fair.
Shopper’s stopOn Flea.k strives to reflect Kochi’s temper, featuring popular Kochi-based boutique Jugalbandhi alongside Mumbai’s top leather accessories store, The Black Canvas. Capturing the love for everything handcrafted, the grounds will also feature sellers like city-based chikan work designer Manju Abraham and graphic novels from Studio Kokaachi. “We’ve tried to avoid similar sellers so that we can be inclusive. Apart from clothing and jewellery, there’ll be stalls on products like bags and plants (think potted orchids),” Leah points out.
Welcoming vibe
The endeavour refuses to be another screened off area for the ‘lady who wants to shop’. “Men like to have their accessories too, and counters like Asvah Aesthetics, which sells beard oil, and wooden eyewear
brand Woodium may entice them.
We want to create a joyful ambience where the whole family can come in and enjoy some time off,” says Anz. Numerous food stalls from popular names like The Grill Lab and Molly’s Farm Made, and games like pani puri-eating competition serve to prove her point.