Potli-full of Fun

Inside the flea market the colours were distracting. Among the interesting items were stalls selling designer fashion kitsch and accessories,purses,tea pots,bags,candles,diaries and book marks. The group was quite a mix – Ninad’s Pottery offered fondue flameware; aroma lamps and floating diyas; Namita Shah’s Potli got together handmade utility products from artisans across the state; craft shop The Pie Lane Studio offered chunky glitters,paper products and hobby craft; and Aditi Deo’s The Doodle Factory presented book marks,coasters,bags and diaries. Rishika Dossa’s little kiosk was full of cotton fabrics ,designer kurtis and bags for sale. In her collection,brightly-painted bold prints dominated pastle coloured background. The pottery stall added different aromatic flavours – one could smell a mix of cinnamon,ginger,and jasmine all around. On Saturday evening singer and composer Tamir Khan presented Sufi and Urdu pop music. “We chose him because we didn’t want the focus to go away from the market. His music blended well with the atmosphere. It sort of got us all together,” says Ketan.

For the participating artists,the market was a good opportunity to connect to customers. For enterpreneur Shah,who is trying to connect artisans from across the state by value adding their work under Potli,the flea market was a ready space for direct customer interaction . “I was a part of their first Flea Market too that happened in May. I returned for the second edition because I got a good response. Since I don’t sell at a particular place,I got a chance to connect.”