Thankfully L.A. does not suffer from a lack of unique design fairs; I tend to flock to the ones that combine good food, great design and a great story. Parachute Market is a relatively new kid on the block, and they promote seasonal fairs that revolve around a cohesive theme. Just in time for the Fall Equinox, “Elemental” curates clothing and furniture designers, artisans, and chefs who are selected to showcase their wares and provide a glimpse into how basic elements influence their creative process.
I took a quick stroll through the fair and saw some amazing work. The jewelry in particular was stunning.
The event is the brainchild of Coryander Friend (who has great taste in handbags), a set decorator who assembled a great group of both established and budding designers. Visually it was amazing, there were performance artists, great music and a vibe that I can only describe as Post-Burning Man “Afterglow”. My only critique is that it would have been great to see a list of vendors or signage as I was looking for specific booths but the layout made it a little difficult to see everything.
What I liked most about this show was that proceeds from ticket sales went to “Inner-City Arts” a non-profit arts program that provides after school and weekend art curriculums to underprivileged children who would otherwise not be exposed to arts programs due to budget cuts (the LA Unified School District cut it’s arts budget by 76% in the last 5 years). In fact, according to a 2012 KCET article, “53% of more than 272,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grade will not receive any arts instruction in elementary school”.
For more on Inner-City Arts:
http://www.inner-cityarts.org/index.php
Parachute Market:
VENUE: 405 Mateo St., Los Angeles 90013 (Arts District).
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 21, 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm & Sunday, Sept, 22, 12:00 pm-6:00 pm.
P.S. Heading out of the market I picked up a bottle of Golden Milk from Moon Juice for my drive to Hollywood. Instant obsession! Loved it. I wish my hood would open a juicery.
P.P.S. A couple of my favorite vendors:
Culture Shock Art 