Photography: Elizabeth Shrier
Words: Claire Margine
聽is an indie, outrageously cool, modern reimagining of a craft fair. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really trying to stray away from the more cutesy side of things or the more traditional side of things,鈥� says Madelon Juliano, Artistic Director at Renegade Craft. 鈥淚 always like to think of it as Anthropologie meets Barneys meets your favorite contemporary art museum store. We鈥檙e not limiting ourselves to any specific aesthetic, but we are interested in cool and different work.鈥�
These events take place in 12 major cities across the U.S. and the U.K. Part craft fair, part festival, part food truck feast, Renegade Craft is a can鈥檛-miss addition to your calendar. We chatted with Madelon to get the scoop on what makes Renegade Craft one of a kind. Read on for what鈥檚 in store for you at these craft fairs, and some of her tricks and tips for having the best time ever.
What makes Renegade Craft special
Renegade Craft is more of an immersive event than simply an opportunity to shop. 鈥淲e try to make our venues feel a little bit more bespoke and more like a happening than your average craft fair,鈥� says Madelon. Part of that comes from visually transforming the venues so they don鈥檛 have the typical craft fair look. 鈥淲e let artists set up their space the way they like and it tends to be more fun to shop because it feels like you鈥檙e shopping at little mini boutiques,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淰endors really go all out and we really encourage them to bring it with their displays.鈥�
It鈥檚 competitive to snag one of these spaces. 鈥淚t鈥檚 100 percent juried. We don鈥檛 accept the same people without jurying,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淓ven if you鈥檝e been there for 10 years, we want to see your work grow and see you bring new work to our attendees and audience.鈥�
And if you鈥檙e an artisan- or craft-fair regular, you won鈥檛 see the exact same vendors that are in your typical rotation. 鈥淥ur fairs aren鈥檛 exclusively local or specific to a region; we try to bring a bunch of different people to these events so people don鈥檛 see the same people they鈥檙e seeing at every fair. They might see an artist from England or Ohio, instead of the same folks,鈥� says Madelon.
Renegade Craft pairs the artisans鈥� unique spaces and wide variety of vendors with a few extra elements that make the event feel completely fresh.
Free to attend:聽You may put a well-deserved dent in your budget from shopping, but you鈥檒l never be charged to walk through the doors. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always free to attend because we strongly believe that the money from people attending should go to our artists,鈥� says Madelon.
A first look at future trends:聽鈥淚 see so many things that go to mainstream markets after seeing our artists sort of start that,鈥� says Madelon. Anthropologie, Target, and Barneys are just a few of the retailers that shop Renegade Craft for new artists and ideas.
Be the first one of your friends to premiere new trends by scoping out the booths. 鈥淔or this year, I鈥檓 seeing a lot of maximalism: patterns and colors and color-blocking,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing a lot more ceramics people, too, which has been a growing trend these last three or four years.鈥�
Access to experts:聽When you go to the Info booth, you鈥檒l be face-to-face with a Renegade Craft staffer who has tons of insider information to share. 鈥淲e鈥檙e there to greet you at the entrance,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e really friends with our artists and we travel with them throughout the country. We love getting feedback at the events, so come talk to us!鈥�
Seasonality:聽The winter markets are definitely geared to give you a better holiday shopping experience, and to put you in a festive mood. 鈥淎rtists are trying to share giftable items that are smaller and at a lower price point, affordable but really cool,鈥� says Madelon. Spring and summer markets offer a totally different vibe with fun warm weather clothing, summery home goods, and food and drinks packed with seasonal flavors.
Insider tips for first-time attendees
Ready to head over to your nearest Renegade Craft? Here鈥檚 what you need to know to make it even more amazing.
Go beyond the shopping:聽Yes, this is absolutely the most fabulous shopping for your home, wardrobe, and holiday gift list. But don鈥檛 forget to check out all of the other activities floating around the fest. 鈥淪ometimes we鈥檒l have tarot readers or shibori dye workshops or an aura photographer,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淲e really want to grow the experiential activity side of things so it鈥檚 unique and not your average workshop. Expect at least one or two non-shopping activities at the fair, and always definitely drinking and food.鈥�
Rideshare your way there:聽Whether you use a ridesharing app, take public transportation, or ride your bicycle, do what you can to skip driving. 鈥淧ublic parking is always an issue; we get a lot of people coming and vendors come with all their stuff,鈥� says Madelon.
Bring some cash:聽鈥淚 recommend bringing a little bit of cash, but most vendors do take cards,鈥� says Madelon.
Wear something fun:聽鈥淲ear a cute outfit, it鈥檚 fun to dress up and go to it,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to go out with your friends and have brunch and go to the fair. Make it an excuse to put together your weird outfit that you鈥檙e maybe nervous about! It鈥檚 a very accepting environment. And if you鈥檙e wearing your weird outfit, maybe you鈥檒l buy something out of your comfort zone or buy a piece of jewelry that you wouldn鈥檛 usually wear.鈥�
A few etiquette suggestions for Renegade Craft newbies
After years of events, Madelon is an expert on how to stay safe and be kind at your first-ever Renegade Craft. Here are a few of her top tips for newbies.
Lock up your bike:聽鈥淟ock up your bike and don鈥檛 pull it through the event,鈥� says Madelon. Space is limited, and carrying your bike with you all day will probably be a hassle that detracts from your shopping and cocktail-sipping adventures. Plus, you鈥檒l leave more room for other shoppers. Bicycles are unwieldy creatures.
Ask before you photograph:聽We know everything at the booths is gorgeous, but pause for a sec before you snap a picture. 鈥淎sk artists before you photograph their work,鈥� says Madelon. She recommends giving a simple explanation, like 鈥淗ey, I really love this and want to buy it, but have to think about it for later,鈥� and then getting the go-ahead from the artist.
Don鈥檛 ask for deals:聽鈥淲hat鈥檚 so great about Renegade is that a lot of people started their businesses or collections or careers at these fairs. We have so many great examples of artists who are huge now and employing 30 people. Those people are not the kind of people you want to haggle with,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淚t puts them in a weird position and they work hard to produce stuff. The prices at the market are very accessible, but it is stuff that鈥檚 handmade and bespoke, and has taken people鈥檚 literal sweat and tears.鈥�
If a price isn鈥檛 right for you, there鈥檚 no need to tell the artist. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 too expensive, walk away!鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to comment, you don鈥檛 have to make them feel like they鈥檙e not worth the money.鈥�
Check yourself before you wreck yourself:聽鈥淲atch your cocktails and watch your stuff when you鈥檙e going into booths,鈥� says Madelon. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen a lot of drinks spilled on stuff and it鈥檚 an awkward position to be in because it鈥檚 never on purpose. But when you鈥檙e in the booth, set your cocktail aside and ask the artist if there鈥檚 somewhere you can put it. Don鈥檛 just put drink rings on their tables.鈥�
Ready to go?
Renegade Craft happens a few times a year at cities throughout the country. Follow聽Renegade Craft on 91国产聽to stay up-to-date on when they land in your city.
