If the Aloha Stadium’s Swap Meet had a young hipster cousin, then it’d be the monthly Art & Flea Market. At less than two years, it’s apparent that baby cuzzo got the fashion genes; a mix of hipster, vintage, urban and mod fills its treasure chests of locally handmade stuff at a first-of-its-kind event on Oahu that puts a fresh spin on typical flea markets.
Locally-inspired finds for guys and gals at the Art & Flea.
Located in the crook of a bustling Honolulu city, the Art & Flea has made the small warehouse and parking lot of Fresh Cafe its home and draws an eclectic crowd of holga-lovin’, skinny-jean-wearin’, fixie-ridin’ folk. But all you really need to fit in is an appreciation for art, music and creativity. Every vendor has roots in the islands and sells locally-inspired goods, like bathing suits, jewelry, plants and paintings.
VIDEO: Art & Flea creators give us the scoops on this flea market hybrid.
Every Art & Flea party has a different theme – from the ridiculously random robotic dance party to the easy-to-spot polka dots. To go with the dot theme, kids and adults pretzeled up with a classic game of Twister. All ages are welcomed to the Art & Flea, including the furry four-legged ones. Everyone’s vibing off the live DJ inside the warehouse – some straight up bustin’ a move down the narrow aisles between vendors.
It’s not only a shopping venue but a lifestyle for many who dabble into this realm of inspiration. Vintage collectors, DIYers (Do It Yourself), clothing designers and indie artists can easily broadcast their visions at this open forum and feed off of each other’s creativity. Avid thrift shoppers, like myself, get their kicks off of finding a unique outfit buried at the bottom of a vendor’s $5 bin. I love going in with a $20 bill and leaving with $50 worth of stuff; always a good time with even better finds!
A fun place for finding vintage stuff from Hawaii.
ART & FLEA MARKET • Every fourth Thursday of month 5-10pm • 831 Queen St., Honolulu, HI 96813 • All ages, $3 admission • www.artandflea.com
