New night market opens tonight in Cape Town

© Maurizio De Mattei – 123RF.com

Part of the First Thursday event - when galleries and other cultural locations stay open late in the Central and East City districts - the night market will offer a fresh line-up of innovative handmade products, complemented by novel food and drinks, as well as design and community events.

Launched by Cape Craft + Design Institute (CCDI), the participants include jewellers (A ring to it, Pernickity and Raw Joy), clothing makers (Fiina Design, Izembatho Creations and Swagger Diaries) and a children's clothing specialist (Claire Bear). Other products include shoes and accessories (Espadril, Ilundi, One of Each, Indalo Décor), beauty products (Hula Honey and O'live) decorative art (Vestibull) and recycled products (GoRD). Other businesses such as Juicebox, Striped Horse craft beer and N2Ice Cream Lab (ice cream prepared from fresh ingredients and instantly frozen) will also be part of the evening, as well as BOS Iced Tea, who have come on board as a sponsor.

Bicycle Cape Town (a community campaign to promote bicycle culture in Cape Town) and several local artists and musicians will also be part of the mix. The Maker Library Network will connect designers and makers, while performance poet Koleka Putuma will read her work, and novelist and poet Patricia Schonstein will have a selection of her books for sale.

"The aim is to ignite the creative culture and community in a new part of the city and activate the East City area as a destination for exceptional design events," said Doreen Hendricks, Coordinator: Domestic & Local Markets for the CCDI. "We are excited at making this space available for designers and other businesses to showcase and sell their products, and look forward to growing it into something huge on the design calendar."