Renegade Craft Fair SF

Saturday I made my way out to the Renegade Craft Fair at San Francisco's Fort Mason. Such a gorgeous location to represent the city!

As a crafty person myself, I went more to check out the scene, admire the pretty colors, and get some inspiration. It was truly interesting seeing the fair through that lens, seeing all the handy work that went into each piece, checking out cool construction details, and marveling at the beautiful ways everyone had set up their stalls. It was also curious to note which stalls were crowded, and which ones got fewer customers.

I was first and foremost surprised at how professional and 'big time' many of the crafters were. Many sellers had travelled from Austin and Portland - this definitely isn't your hometown shop! But it was cool to see how the pros did it, from wearing their handmade goods to offering alterations and custom work on the spot.

And if you think this is a women's only event, you're wrong! There were many booths catering to men, and plenty of representation among both sellers and patrons.

In addition to clothes, there was also tons of cool home decor and even some food items. I definitely left feeling inspired!

Of course, I definitely checked out the clothes! I tried not to take and detail pictures because I know sellers can be sensitive about that, but there were some very cute dresses, amazing hand quilted jackets, and some folded cuffs that I just might replicate on one of my own creations. I'm still a bit conflicted on the ethics of being inspired by the work of other crafters, so I'll let you know where I land on that.

It was interesting to note that not all the garments had perfect stitching. Not to be a craft snob or anything, but I would want a straight line and even stitching on a $50 skirt! But luckily for us sewists, Kollabora was there :)

I did, however, end up making one purchase: a cute 'gear bracelet' for $20. It was about the same price as a department store, but supports an artist, and she even custom fit me! What could be better?

If you're in the area and thinking about going yourself, it's still happening today (Sunday) from 11am to 7pm at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion.

For those who can't attend, I'll leave you with a few more pics from the event.