Marché aux puces

The past few years have seen a rise in the number of flea markets and pop-up shops and stalls all over the city. Various new events that have adopted this concept have become largely popular, witnessing a huge turnout. We take a look at the catalysts that have helped in this rise and why people love the concept.

Why the rise…

One of the major reasons for the increasing popularity of pop-up shops and flea markets is the rise of young entrepreneurs who have found a way to bridge the gap between start-ups and consumers. The Lil Flea, Black Taxi Creative Concepts (started by two cousins who have been in the business for years) and Style Cracker Borough are some of the big guns in this field. And as the number of people flocking to these events is on a steady incline, so is the scale of such events. Not limiting themselves to just clothes and accessories, these markets, or events as they may be called, consist of brands specialising in home décor, food products and much more.

Alankar Jain, co-founder of the Lil Flea, says, “Flea markets and pop-ups are a great way for creative people to reach out to a large number of interested folks without spending a bomb on monthly shop rentals. New and upcoming brands not only get great exposure but they also get great feedback on both the quality and price points of their products, which in turn helps them refine their offerings and build a solid brand. All this, coupled with various forms of live entertainment for their audiences in the form of musicians and bands along with varied options of food stalls make the visit worthwhile.

Why people love it

Veronica Dias, a resident of Malad, who is a frequent visitor of flea markets in the city, shares, “I love flea markets because you get some of the most quirky and offbeat things at cheap rates—things that are not easily available in malls.” Mumbaikars have reacted positively to the influx of flea markets and pop-ups. Jain further shares, “I think people in the city are bored of the mundane. They want alternatives and personalised things—they want to go beyond plain shopping and are looking for an enriching experience.”