PUCES POP LETS DIY LOVERS SHARE THE WEALTH OCTOBER 2ND & 3RD
Story by Odessa Paloma Parker
Photo by Richmond Lam
With style to spare, Montréal is home to some of Canada’s best and brightest artistic talent, with bands, designers and artists frequently converging and collaborating in the city’s historic bars, bistros and boutiques. But one festival, POP Montréal, brings all of this creativity together in one place every fall. Now in its ninth year, the event has initiated several off-shoots including Lil Biz, a conference held for artistically-minded small business owners, and Fashion POP, a competition featuring the work of six up-and-coming designers – last year’s winner was Angie Johnson, who designs the line, Norweigan Wood. Encouraging and exposing the best of what’s new (or maybe just new to you) is the name of the game.
One of the key components to the POP Montréal festival is Puces POP, a flea market-style fair featuring independent designer wares, art and more. Fashion POP stems from the original concept of Puces POP, and both are curated showcases that receive hundreds of applicants. It’s no surprise, then, that the events are attractive to those looking to market their labours of love. Puces POP is Montréal’s biggest DIY event, and POP Montréal has international recognition as an independent music festival. Amy Johnson, Puces POP’s co-ordinator , attributes the success of the sale (now in its sixth year) to its broad appeal. “We have a little bit of everything,” she says. “There are a lot of young families in the area now, so this year we’re going to have items that cater to them as well as to our usual crowd.” Davis Khounnoraj, the designer behind Lines By: Davis, is heading to Puces POP for the second time. “There’s a sense of community, support and love from people who attend and participate in the show,” he says. “I get a lot of inspiration [from] the people who attend the show who have a great sense of style…guys and girls alike.”
Held over the course of October’s first weekend (October 2nd and 3rd), at this year’s Puces POP, you can expect to find accessories, clothes, posters and prints, records and a selection of fine food – provided by the event’s host, the St. Michael’s Church. Vendors come from across the country to participate, but the majority are from the Montréal area. That means you’re sure to find something especially unique if you live outside Québec.
The purpose of Puces (which means “flea” en Français) is to “encourage people to do things themselves, and be creative,” Johnson adds. “It’s a venue to share this creativity.” If you miss out this time around, fear not – Puces POP is held three times a year.
