Sunset Park’s Japan Village is gearing up for one of its most beloved community events of the year: the annual Holiday Craft Fair.
Returning on Dec. 13 and 14 on the second floor of Sunrise Market with a curated lineup of Brooklyn artists, crafters and small-batch food vendors, the fair offers free admission and helps shoppers in supporting independent makers.
On Instagram, organizers encouraged visitors to “explore beautiful handcrafted pottery, natural incense, clothing, spices (shichimi), accessories and more — all made with care and creativity.” The fair will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days.
Japan Village also provided specific categories for the market, which include “Handcrafted incense and aroma items, small-batch clothing and accessories, pottery and ceramic works, natural stone and gemstone jewelry, craft spices and seasonings and freshly baked goods and sweets.”
Many participants are Brooklyn and NYC-based artisans.
The event began as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, when organizer Sawami Aoki and a group of artists hoped to find a place to make their creations accessible to the public. According to a statement to Brooklyn Paper, “vendors contribute 15% of their sales to Japan Village, and Japan Village donates the full amount to the Japanese American Association (JAA), supporting community programs and cultural activities.”
Aoki told Brooklyn Paper that while “AI can produce many things today, what we make by hand holds the love and spirit of the people who create it.”
“That’s why I want to continue crafting together with this community,” she said.
