‘Something for everyone’: Sixth annual Caribbean holiday market opens in Downtown Brooklyn
The creatives behind I am Caribeing, a hub for Caribbean and Latin American culture, art and film, are inviting Brooklynites of all walks of life to the sixth edition of their Caribbean Holiday Market Experience, on display at the Plaza at 300 Ashland through Dec. 30.
This year’s marketplace features up to 30 craftsmen and women offering an array of beauty, culinary, clothing, houseware, jewelry and wellness items made right in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood or in their home countries.
According to Shelley Worrell, founder and chief curator for cultural organization I am CaribBeing, vendors will be showcasing products from Haiti, Guadalupe, Trinidad, Jamaica and beyond.
“We just wanted to create a space for people who make things that reflected our culture and our community in commerce,” Worrell told Brooklyn Paper. “A lot of unique products that resonate with the Caribbean and Latin American community but there’s something there for everyone.”
You can #ShopCaribbean now through the end of the month thanks to I am CaribBeing’s curated selection of one-of-a kind items from over 30 Caribbean and Latino artisans.Shelley Worrell
With help from sponsors — including the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Two Trees Management and the New York City Department of Small Business Services — Worrell and her team have put together what she calls a “curated marketplace” located right in the heart of the borough.
“It’s a mix of people from the neighborhoods and we’ve stumbled across their work. There’s some folks who reached out to us and there’s some that we invite,” the founder said. “These are all Black and brown artisans so obviously supporting these micro-businesses is paramount, especially in the wake of general displacement in those communities.”
SBS helps fund the marketplace though its Neighborhood Development Division, which works to strengthen areas and business districts throughout the city. Money from the department specifically helped I am CaribBeing set up its shops and market participating businesses.
Some of the many shops featured at the marketplace include African-inspired statement jewelry-makers 84 Gem, Haitian coffee proprieters Cantave De Saint Marc, and Island Love Cakes. Shoppers can find a full list of vendors here, or stop by the Plaza to find the perfect holiday gifts.
The marketplace is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
