Yesterday was Mathilda's Market, the fourth one for Barefoot Babies. I was running late, we didn't have any hangers so Mel had to do a mad dash to Lane Cove Coles for some but apart from that the day went pretty smoothly.
We saw some wonderful friends from the blogging world; Fran, Amelia, Monique. I got to meet Bec from Blinking Flights , the creator of amazing, whimsical softies (of which I am a proud owner after winning one.)
Isn't she the cutest!!We saw Cass, Ingrid and Belinda who were all busy manning thier stalls. It's a beautiful place to walk into, so much colour, movement and excitement.
Unfortunately for us we felt like Mathilda's has gone the way of other markets by allowing stall holders selling mass produced items in which diminishes the focus on hand crafted and Australian made items. We were placed next to a lady selling baby gear, straight out of a packing box, all individually wrapped and all made overseas. She was able to replenish her table as soon as she had a sale. She was selling Pure Baby items for $5 a piece. She was friendly to us, but was not a crafter and did not undersntad why we made our own clothing. She said if she had her time over she would be selling Dora items as that's where the money is. She wasn't the only who didn't hand craft, who didn't "get it".
I have no issue with mass produced or made overseas, for the most part it's inevitable but you can get it anywhere, wheras with handmade, there are so few of us why can't we have our own market? I have no problem being in competition with other handmade kids clothing manufacturers, at least we are on a level playing field and competition is healthy. I have a problem with trying to compete with non handmade, Mathilda's Market should be supporting us not forcing us to justify our existance.
I hate ranting, it's not my style, I am an affable person and I don't like to rock the boat but I really feel strongly about this issue
24 comments:
I would have been really dissapointed as a consumer if I had seen mass produced overseas items at what I thought was supposed to be a handmade market.
It sounds like you have every reason to be annoyed. Was it meant to be a hand made only market? Next time maybe you should head for a genuine makers market where you know it is all handmade and avoid this larger, anything goes type market. You will find more like minded people there and get to enjoy the experience too. Shame that it turned out the way it did for you but at least you got to meet some other lovely bloggy/crafty types xo
I feel the same as you Sophie. It is very disappointing but I have a feeling that Mathildas isn't going to change the way it is headed.
How disappointing. I agree that markets should really be about handmade - you can get the mass produced stuff anywhere. I've always thought that Mathilda's was a handmade market so would have been really peeved to see the mass produced stuff.
I understand totally your dissapointment and agree , no you're not raving at all .
OMG Honey you made my cry... You know I 'get it' and I support you 100%. If that's the way Matilda's is going then good luck to them. Handmade in the new thing and we are doing the right thing. Stay strong, have a rant and move on babe. Big Love!!
xo Steph
Good on you for ranting. Its a shame thats where Mathilda's is heading. Their loss!
More and more people are appreciating hand made. Stay true to your dreams and vision.
It's ridiculous that people are allowed to have stalls of mass-produced stuff at 'markets' when it is available everywhere else. What is the point of holding a market, if not for original, artisan products? It's really unfortunate. Perhaps you can seek out other options for selling Barefoot Babies.
On the up side, that smock/dress is just stunning. Love it.
It was my first Mathilda's Market and I was surprised to see some of the mass produced goods that are easy to find at regular stores. I much preferred the other sellers stores... but I guess that's because I am a crafter! Loved your stall and meeting your beautiful niece, A.
I noticed the mass produced people too. I thought it was quite strange as it's supposed to be handmade, and considering the application process to be part of it. Itdefinitely make made me reconsider my plan to do Mathilda's in the future.
On the positive side, it sounds like you guys still had a good day at least and it was looking gorgeous.
I know what you mean about the increase in the mass produced making it's way in and it is so disappointing in so many ways.
Perhaps you said - why don't you have your own market. I think that the Northside market was really successful down here and I am sure they would give you some advice, but maybe you can band togther and do it for yourself.
Oh and it so wasn't ranty
I find it weird that anyone would want to buy mass produced items at such an event. If I want mass produced I'd go to the store. I agree, events like that should be for handmade, that's why people go there!
totally agree! I know what you mean about rocking the boat, but this was something I was really really unimpressed with... why even go to a market when you can pick up a lot of these items in regular retail stores???
I have to agree with everything that has been said. I was under the asumption that it was a hand made market too, and was very surprised to see mass produced dtor items too. This was the first market that I had to opportunity to go and was a little disappointed too.
Ok I'm going to jump in to, as although I had a fantastic day as a handmade stall holder, I found it very disappointing that more and more stallholders with mass produced items are there and I'm also not sure if there is a place for bricks and mortar shops to have a stall but at least most of these are selling handmade items. This is taken from the Mathildas site "Unique. Stylish. Beautiful kids stuff. That's what Mathilda's Market is all about.
Everything is exquisitely and lovingly handmade, or comes from a small production line. And affordable. It's kids shopping heaven."
Interestingly I have been giving some thought to starting up a market, totally handmade as Cindy also mentioned. Perhaps we need to put our heads together.
You raise such a good point, and as an avid market goer, I don't go for the mass stuff that I can buy in any old store, I go for the unique things that someone has stitched with love, and with their own hands. And it does seem as though more and more market holders are about mass made gear rather than those special pieces. Such a bummer I didn't get to see you!
I've only been to two Mathilda's, this one just gone and the one held in March. I definately noticed a difference in some of the stalls. One stall had gorgeous little dresses, but there were so many of them (all identical) I just knew they had been outsourced not 'handmade'. I promptly walked away from that stall! As has been said already, I go to this type of market to see and buy handmade, original items - just. like. yours. :)
oh no, that sucks big time. She obviously didn't get it...gosh if I had my time all over again Dora would never have been shown to miss 3!!!!!
lets get Cass to start up her own handmade market heh! Plus hopefully we'll see more handmade markets and opportunities opening up.
it all looks lovely! I had my first bad dream that 20 minutes before market I had nothing, no tables, no stock nothing.....woke up in a panic then realised I have till december!!!!!
corrie:)
That is really strange, you would think that the organisers of such a market would make sure the handmade personal quailty was paramont? Anyway, keep fighting the good fight!!
Still trying to catch up ;-)
I can imagine you were disappointed. I would be also, as a customer, if I went to a market for handcrafted items and found all kinds of mass production there.
How dissapointing that there was so much mass produced stuff. I would be upset too!! These markets should be supporting handmade. Your dresses look lovely....
How sad that the market has gone down this road. Its a shame, a real shame.
Keep me in the loop if Cass gets a market off the ground - I have about 8 dresses that need a home, so that's a start, I guess!
x
Oh Sophie that is so disappointing. Go ahead and rave, it's the only way things get changed. I think it's only a matter of time before there's a handmade market (go Cass, go!) because I think there's a genuine desire from people to buy handmade. Why bother going to a market if you're just going to find the same old stuff that's in stores?
I am so relieved to read that.I had a horrible time at Mathildas pitching my slowly and carefully made treasures against stalls stocking well known brands who pump out knock offs in a factory in china.Sadly so many people dont 'get it' and I think sadly that a lot of people dont actually care.I would rather buy something unique and made with love over something lower priced any day.It was really belittling and I wont be rushing back.I always thought Mathildas did support handmade but they have opened it up too much.It was interesting that afterwards I had an email asking me to do an interview (they took shots during the market) as I guess they want the 'look' of the handmade creator.Such a bugger.I was a terrible mother for so many weeks for no good reason.
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