Fleamarket Kochi by Kevin Varghese draws inspiration from Goa’s holiday markets

Keeping its focus on handmade merchandise, Fleamarket by Kevin Varghese draws inspiration from Goa’s holiday markets 
handmade_soaps
handmade_soaps

This April, Kochi is having an affair with fairs. After Zook street and The Wardrobe, Fleamarket by Kevin Varghese marks the third such event within the last couple of weeks. So what’s different about this one? The young entrepreneur’s version of the same is trying to create a Goan  summer bazaar-inspired eventfeaturing handmade goodies and organic proucts. An engineer-turned-event management professional, Kevin’s debut venture took over two months to take shape primarily because hisvendors were coming  all the way from Mangalore."Fleamarket is a celebration of craft, music, art and food as opposed to ‘just another shopping expo’. My travels along the Konkan coast and Goa made me want to bring this experience here,” begins the 24-year-old, who attended similar fairs and festivals across India including Bengaluru’s Soul Sante for research.

The tropical edit 
While his outdoor event is set to be held at the lawns of three-star property Highway Garden, Kevin is least bothered about the summer heat playing spoilsport. “We plan to host the event across two evening segments which will make it an enjoyable experience despite the stuffy weather,” he adds. As for why you should attend his festival, one of the major reasons Kevin comes up with are the gourmet burgers by Mangalore-based foodpreneur Cherian Abraham.“Kochi is undergoing a food boom and I'm looking forward to experiencing the place firsthand,” shares the self-taught chef, whose stall at the venue will serve made-to-order double patty burgers in chicken and beef variants (topped with bacon strips). Sustainable cookware labels such as The Village Fair by Priya Deepak and Radhika Manghat Menon along with Aluva-based Criya Boutique—who specialise in handwoven materials and vintage ceramics items—are also expected to make an appearance at the venue. 

Pop shop
As seen at previous trunk shows in the city, the number of new home-based ‘organic bath and beauty product’ makers are growing. While familiar names from the list include FIG and Nakedly Yours, Fleamarket will also introduce handmade natural soaps by Ranjini Krishan’s Bodytree.
“Our stall will have options including extra moisturising soaps made of pure butter as well as stress buster combos featuring vetiver, patchouli and cedar wood,” adds Ranjini. For fashion savvy shoppers, the bazaar lists over six brands including Cocoon (who sell eco-friendly jewellery made of thread). “I have tried to keep up with a healthy blend of brands, especially with endeavours like florist Jaya Sunny Anthraper’s decor brand The Country House. Kochittes can expect more editions from Fleamarket during the upcoming holidayseason,” says Kevin, signing off.

April 22- 23.
From 3 pm to 10 pm. 
At Highway Garden.
 

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