Looking for something to do this weekend? Here's an idea, hit the South End Open Market (in Boston's SOWA) and check out the local vendors and their wares. I really am a fan of keeping things local, trying to support my neighbors and keep my hard-earned money in the economy that it is generated in. I figure enough of our cash ends up in the hands of companies that keep "headquarters" in the Cayman Islands or somewhere off-shore to avoid paying their fair share of the tax burden.
So, as a person who once made enemies for an op-ed on how boycotts hurt local economies more than they make a global impact, I like to do my best to keep my money local. And that means, if i'm in New Orleans (as I was last week) or I am in Boston, I would rather spend my dollars with businesses that will filter the money that they make either back into local resources or at least in other small businesses. For example, I love Jean Therapy and the sister store Therapy. They carry smaller labels, high-quality stuff at lower prices than the larger competitors. Plus, it's local and they rep brands like Distilled, which actually uses as one of it's tag lines the fact that their product is made in shops with windows. As well, it's made here in America, San Fran, to be exact, so one knows that the money is staying where it was manufactured.
Anyway, back to the point. I think that markets such as the South End Open Market really open up the
smaller local arts and such to the people who might otherwise miss out on them. It's a good thing that really allows one to experience what the local artisans and farmers have to offer.
And it's pretty much a mix-up of great and not so great. That's to be expected. One of the advantages and disadvantages of supporting small and local business is that there are always a few toads.
Something that won't be a toad, if I know this person's taste and dedication to couture as well as I think I do is DAME. Dame and I have known each other for a while, in the interest of full disclosure, but I have never known her to be less than incredibly discriminating and tasteful when it comes to what is and isn't worth wearing. Although I am more likely to be seen in jeans and a tee than anything else, I still trust her advice when maybe what i'm wearing isn't something that I should be adding to my wardrobe.
Check it out.
