All You Need To Know About The Finders Keepers Market in Melbourne

Last month, after living in Australia for more than three years, I finally went into the Finders Keepers Market in Melbourne. I have been forever curious about the iconic designer market in Australia. So on a rainy Friday evening, I took the tram and paid the entry fee to see what is the fuss all about.

The Finders Keepers Market

Australia’s leading design market was founded in 2018 by two female friends who are also designers. #womenpower. Ever since, they annually host six events in major cities in Australia to support over 1000 local artists and designers. How cool is that?

Note-Worthy Designers in Finders Keepers Market

There are more than 200 stalls at Melbourne Finders Keepers Market this year. Most of them looked pretty similar to my untrained-not-artsy eyes. Then there were some that were swarmed by the fans and visitors. Below are a few cult-favourite designers’ stalls.

Shuh.

This was the first stall that caught my attention and my favourite from the Finders Keepers Market event. I stopped and made a conversation with the Malaysian-born designers. I bought a pin of a woman with her cat (and regretted not buying the super cute ceramic necklace) and took some pictures. She told me to tag her on IG as she would love to see it. I did.

Nanna Woo Handmade

These bio-gorgeous-based resin jewellery and homewares were the babies of two Tazi sisters. It’s the only stall where I couldn’t get close enough to touch their products because it’s surrounded by people who kept getting excited about everything and anything displayed.

Connie and Luna

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_fg8Dglpr/

Connie is a Melbourne-based travel blogger who I have been following for a while. Only recently I found out that she also has a jewellery brand under her blog, Connie and Luna.

Druids with Souls

What is a druid, you asked? It’s moulded concrete painted in happy design and claims to have a unique soul. The 2019 version of gratitude rock would make a cute first-date or you-are-in-mind gift. It can also be a perfect blog mascot if you are not into soft toys.

Public Holiday

The Sydney-based small brand homewares brought some of their quirkiest homewares to the Finders Keepers Market that day. Public Holiday is one of the few stalls where people stop and purchase something. My favourite is their Universe cups collection. It reminded me of the homewares we saw in the Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shotengai market In Osaka, Japan.

I noticed a few more stalls and considered separating from my dollars, including a glass earrings shop, the Jamaican sauce stall, and Jericho Road clothing racks.

Eating at the Finders Keepers Market

Even though it’s nothing compared to Queen Victoria Winter Night Market,  there was a large eating section in a wing of the Royal Exhibiting Building where you can rest and refuel.

Chai Addict

I also had a drop of chai from Chai Addicts and bought their Chai Harder. Chai Harder is their signature chai concentrate with additional ginger, black pepper, and cayenne blend. I have been treating myself to a cup of it every day before stepping out into the freezing winter morning.

What’s Not So Great About Finders Keepers Market?

When I came home from visiting Finders Keepers Market, Fafa asked me how it was. Surprisingly (even to myself), I said: “it was.. okay?“. He asked me why so, and I couldn’t really explain why.

Maybe it was because there was an entry fee. Even though it was just $5. I don’t remember ever paying an entry fee for visiting any kind of market before, even not for the iconic Winter Night Market in Melbourne.

One of a Handmade Kind

When I told a friend that everything sold in the Finders Keepers Market was expensive, she conveyed a very good point. She said it’s pricey because it’s handmade and of good quality. That, I get. I also like that most of them are one-of-a-kind pieces (as a single child, I have a weird fascination with limited edition things — like we are of the same tribe).

But some weren’t. Some were just printed posters of koalas or cockatoo on pastel backgrounds; glittery basic-bitches earrings that I have seen in a few shops in Chapel Street but never worn by anyone in public; planters; aromatherapy oils plastered with witchy names. The worst was a printed photo for $75. Or maybe it’s $25. I didn’t look that close, but still, why?

Overwhelming Homogeneity

Another thing that I noticed straight away is the homogeneity of the designs, especially the jewellery, especially the earrings. Most of them are made of plastics and support the same shapes and/or colour spectrums. Most didn’t look anything one of the kind and wouldn’t even stand out as products of a particular brand. In the end, made it like it was mass-produced but with a hefty price tag.

Listening to these complaints during our Monday lunch session, my colleague Jen said, “Well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder; just because you can’t see it.. it doesn’t mean none else can’t either“.

She is right. So do visit the Finders Keepers market when they pop next in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. It’s a good way to expose talented artists and designers and support them. If you do, let me know what you think of it.

Ps. I wish I had engaged more conversations with the designers about them and their creations. There were pieces that were truly beautiful. If I had an extra budget, I would gladly bring it home. Maybe next time.

#THEFINDERSKEEPERS

Finders Keepers Market 

Sydney at The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve

Melbourne at The Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton 

Brisbane at Brisbane Showgrounds, The Marquee

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