A Return of Fort Greene’s Holiday Market

The 2nd annual Fort Greene Holiday Market opens Dec. 14 at the Urban Assembly of Arts & Letters. Filling the school’s entrance hall, 51 vendors will be on-hand selling holiday gifts from jewelry and stationery, to clothing and pillows.

A resident of Clinton Hill for 15 years, Claudia Pearson will be at the market alongside her hand-printed totes, aprons and tea towels. Pearson, who also sells her wares at the weekly Brooklyn Flea on Lafayette Avenue, said there’s something magical about buying handmade gifts face-to-face.

She doesn’t have a physical shop, only an online one, where she sells her food-oriented products – such as a “Buy Local, Eat Seasonal” coloring book.

“My items are for people who love to cook,” Pearson said. “They’re for people who love bright, funny things in their house.”

Designer Nasözi Kakembo also believes that her products – pillows patterned with African textiles – will attract customers with an eye for vibrancy.

“I’m usually the only one doing African print home décor,” said Kakembo, who quit her 9-to-5 job in April to pursue her craft full-time. “I’m never lost in the crowd.”

Kakembo uses patterns from west African nations, including Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria. Although throw pillows are her main products, she also designs and sells yoga bags, aprons, table linens and picture frames.

“There are always a handful of home accessories and home décor at the market, but even within that kind of industry I usually have the brightest colors, the boldest colors and the most different patterns,” Kakembo said.

For those who come to the market with kids in tow but want to do some serious shopping, locals from Art Shack will be on-hand, leading attendees of all ages through holiday-themed craft lessons, including hand-rolled beeswax candles.

The market also features a pop-up holiday photo booth. For $50, families and friends can leave with a print and digital image – perhaps the beginnings of a holiday card.

According to Bliss Broyard, one of three chairwomen who founded and organized the holiday market, it’s about having a lot of unique local products to choose from.

“Our school and community are quite diverse,” Broyard said. “Likewise, we have a nice range of diversity among our vendors.”

The market opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The Urban Assembly of Arts & Letters school entrance is on Clermont Avenue, between DeKalb Avenue and Willoughby Avenue.