Cultivating Creative Energy
Notes on community through our NYC market weekend.
Hello readers, happy NYC Market weekend! There’s a celebratory feel to the city air; between seeing the team’s hard work come together with the hours that the sellers and creators spent planning to being back in the city where Normal was born and where all the girls have called home, it feels like the culmination of something special. The team becomes reinvigorated in the city, walking blocks with ease and laughter when the driving life is not so far behind them. The noise and chaos and livelihood is so creatively inspiring to where no idea seems too out of reach. Energized by this idea and it always helps with thinking one step ahead, planning for everything and being ready for anything.
This energy was truly around every corner, even the night the girls got in; the restaurant they discovered instantly ignited with a new excitement despite them being so tired. It’s moments like this that should always keep you on your toes as you never know what new places and/or people would make you feel at home. The team spent the afternoon with our new friend Oketo Burks, who took them all throughout downtown as they scouted potential locations for an upcoming project (more on this later). He was a huge source of energy for them as they walked throughout downtown talking about work and passions, meanwhile he knew everyone on the way - they even started calling him the mayor of Lower Manhattan.
Meanwhile the team has been doing their best at keeping the self love on top of their priority; eating dessert and dancing around the room together to a playlist they made as a way to prep for the next day. Even the silly moments, where our brains are running on sugar, are essential to who we are as a team.
These people who make up the Normal community are essential parts of where the team gets creative life. Whether it’s through an estate sale, a design project, or one of the markets, the people who the team work with directly fuel our spirit and inspire our work. We’re so grateful when a local seller or a design client wants to work with the team as we know it’s not an easy decision to trust someone with your home or your brand. It’s this community trust that shapes the process through each closed home or end to a market weekend to part of our brand’s story. When a small business or brand chooses to work with us, the team is filled with the same energy where no idea feels out of reach.
Not-A-Normal Market: NYC
The team arrived in New York, taking time to see family and recharge before it was time to start prepping. Now, the days look like floor planning, vendor booth organizing, and decision making around potential rain (while manifesting no rain) in various restaurants, cafes, and curbs of the road around the city. This whirlwind of activity felt like wedding planning, with all of the emotions to go along with it.
Despite the checklists and meetings on the go, the girls have the space prepped on paper and are taking over Bushwick today to physically set everything up. Seeing the plans come to life as tape gets laid and sellers start bringing their pieces in, setting up their booths, and meeting (or reuniting with) their neighbors, is the most exciting. This is one of the team’s favorite parts of the setting up, the connections and community that comes from the markets is one of the things that sets it apart.
This market will be different, as many of these creators haven’t sold at a Normal market before, despite some LA vendors attending. This means that we’ve had to build the trust of new brands, local makers, and small business owners all over again, not often an easy process nor one that we take lightly. Each person who sells at the markets is putting their business’ life in our hands, hoping for a successful weekend that continues to fuel their brand. As a small business ourselves, we understand this fear well and do our best to create a relationship where all of the sellers feel supported and heard. Going through this process with each vendor takes time but is so necessary to the success of the market.
This is going to be a lively weekend filled with local brands as well as international sellers including a brand that’s close to the team’s heart. Knitss, Lale’s family’s sustainable Turkish fashion brand, will be selling this weekend, joined by other Turkish brands, including 10am Factory, Together Textiles, Melez, Monomid Design Studio, and Atelier Beroj. These markets have truly become a metaphorical and literal family event and seeing how much culture has shown up in the markets is incredibly special. There are so so many amazing sellers to highlight but for now, here are four brands that you won’t want to miss this weekend:
NYC-Based: Past Lives Studio
This multi-hyphenate brand is one who the Normal team known for a while and deeply admire their work. Make sure you stop by their booth to learn more about their work in the interior world and shop their curation of rare vintage pieces.
Past Lives is a Brooklyn-based studio offering interior design services and restored 20th century furniture and home decor, made by celebrated makers from around the world. In sourcing for the shop's inventory, founder Carly Krieger seeks out the unordinary, and refinishes it with the finest attention to craft material. Through the use of custom finishes and bold upholstery, Past Lives adds an unexpected layer to timeless and historic designs, resulting in one of a kind pieces.
International Brand: catalog:three
One of our many international brands is also a seller from our LA market! They’ve become good friends and we’re grateful that they travel so much to sell with us - their booth is definitely not one to be missed!
catalog:three was developed with the intention of creating a modern glimpse into the world of traditional rugs. We work with partners around the world to source pieces that effortlessly complement our clients' unique styles. Every rug we select is one-of-a-kind and has its own unique style and history.
Sustainable Design: French Presse Linens
Shopping sustainably is part of our brand’s ethos, especially when it comes to what you’re putting in your home. Shop this brand’s booth for bed and bathware you’ll feel good in and about.
Chic & sustainable designs range from formal to comfortable and were created to bring peace and serenity to your home. Our brand was started by a mother and continued by a son, with a central motif— every French Presse customer is bringing home a piece that will add joy to their home, that they will stop by on a daily basis to look at, smile, and appreciate.
Vintage Vibes: Rabbit Hole Vintage
If you’re looking for super unique furniture or talented restoration, this seller is sure to be one of your favorites. Stop by their booth to check out their collection and maybe discover your next favorite pieces.
Rabbit Hole Vintage is named for their relentless nerdery and pursuit of knowledge, it is where the founders share their love for old stuff. They source, restore, and re-home vintage pieces so they can be appreciated for decades to come.
For more vendor highlights, you can check out our recent feed posts on our Instagram.
There’s still time to buy a ticket! If you’re a current subscriber to The Motherlode on Substack or a current student we’re giving you 10% OFF of the ticket price for our NYC Market. Before purchasing, please email info@normalnewyork.com with a photo of a valid student ID or proof of Substack subscription and our team will send you a discount code.
Click here to purchase tickets.
All Things Normal
Estate Sales
The reason the girls have been running from Soho to LES to Brooklyn and back isn’t just because of the market prep. We’re hosting an estate sale with an amazing client in the city, and while we don’t want to give everything away, we decided that in our celebratory spirit we’d give you a little sneak peak. This will be the largest and most exclusive estate sale yet with luxury at its finest, collector-level art - but where’s the sale happening? That’s our secret (for now).
What We’re Loving
“Diana and I were the first to arrive in the city and were so tired after our flight that we just wanted a cozy place to rest and eat. Around the corner, we discovered Wei Williamsburg, a Chinese restaurant that we had never been to but instantly loved. It was so homey and had some of the best decor I’ve seen in a restaurant; the lighting, furniture, plants, and art all came together in a way that was truly exciting and made us feel at ease, we were taking notes and eating all of the food.” - Lale
“I took the girls to the restaurant I worked at in my early 20’s, Taqueria St. Marks. I think everyone should work at least one service industry job once in their life as it teaches you a lot of patience and my experience definitely prepared me for some parts of the market planning process. I thought it would be fun to get some work done here; I tend to thrive in these environments, but we learned that Lale prefers a quiet space to get things done.” - Diana
“I took some time at the beginning of the week to go home to Massachusetts and visit my family. When I’m home I love going to Linden Street Deli in Wellesley, seriously the best sandwiches. I’ve been going there since high school and they’re addictiv- level delicious! I’ve also been super into trivia night - I’ve gone twice this week and got a participation award for the lowest score. I went to Pete’s candy store in Williamsburg once I got to the city and it’s been my fuel this week.’ - Emma
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Although it’s almost the end of the week, we feel like we’re just getting started! Teh team is feeling all of the things as our work steps off the computer screen and into real life as the plans begin to take shape. Experiencing the community and excitement that comes from the markets makes every hour that’s spent planning so worth it. Seeing small brands, international sellers, and local creators come together to grow and thrive inspires us so much as a small business and is the ultimate reward.
We hope to see all of you shopping and finding new favorites, you’re part of the community that is so essential to our creativity. Make sure to subscribe to hear the details about how our weekend goes, exclusive looks at the estate sale, and updates on design clients - plus industry tips, local favorites, and more.
xx,
Team Normal