Wairarapa retro market a hit

Seamus Boyer | Monday, May 9, 2011 16:00

Sweet Treats: Carol Murray preparing high tea at the New Rags market. Her stall was one of 28 at the market on Saturday.

File

Punters flocked to Wairarapa's newest market on Saturday, splurging on "up-cycled" retro goods and homebaked food.

Hundreds of people visited the New Rags market, which was held for the first time at the Masterton Town Hall on Saturday, and will be a monthly fixture from now on.

Organiser Abbie McCall said the market had a "retro" theme and had an emphasis on quirky arts and crafts and recycled products.

"It's got a vintage heart and it's a coming together of recycled and up-cycled crafts."

She described up-cycling as "taking something old and turning it into something beautiful" by changing or adding to it.

She said the inspiration for the market came from wanting to sell her own vintage Japanese kimonos but failing to find a suitable outlet for them.

"I've got my own range of things and there wasn't a market for it so I just decided to create one."

Saturday's market saw 28 different stalls as well as live music.

As well as the clothing, homeopathy, jewellery and arts and crafts on display, there were also crepes, high tea and gluten-free eggs benedict to satisfy hungry shoppers.

The market is to be held on the first Saturday of every month, with changing stalls to "build up the anticipation each time", Mrs McCall said.

Future events will include a kids market in October, a food-only market in November, as well as several Christmas markets held in the evening in the lead-up to the festive season.

The New Rags market will next be held at the Masterton Town Hall on June 4, from 9am-2pm.