Handmade Arcade Announces Makers for 18th Annual Holiday Market
Etna Print Circus, courtesy of Joey Kennedy
Handmade Arcade is delighted to announce the selected makers for its 18th annual Holiday Market, which returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Friday and Saturday, December 2-3, 2022. A keystone of Pittsburgh's holiday traditions, the Handmade Arcade Holiday Market is the region's largest, drawing approximately 10,000 shoppers each year. Returning to its peak size since the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event will feature 250 of the region's top makers, artists, and craftspeople.
"The Holiday Market is our flagship event and one that is really critical for the success of our region's creative economy," says Tricia Brancolini-Foley, Executive Director. "We are looking forward to returning to our record-setting size of hosting 250 makers, who come from all across the country. We are also excited to bring back the hands-on crafts and demonstrations that highlight our maker community's incredible craftsmanship and skill."
The Holiday Market is a curated event that features a large selection of Pittsburgh-based makers as well as craftspeople from as far away as Oregon. The 250 featured makers were selected by an expert jury out of 438. The event includes well-known artists from past years like Ingrid LaManna, the metal jeweler behind Pittsburgh-based EastEnd Alchemy, husband-and-wife team Dr. Quinton Yeldell and Krystle Ford of Southern Hospitality, which creates all-natural bath and body products, and eco-conscious stuffed animal creator Melissa Bracken of The Happy Groundhog.
Handmade Arcade is also thrilled to introduce new makers this year. Braddock-based brand TOMO, “a fine 3D printing studio,” brings their beautiful and functional housewares to the market, including office goods, garden accessories, and decorative accents. Another new maker joining the event is Indianapolis-based Now Boarding, which sells handmade, globally inspired clutches, tote bags, and accessories. Imani Batts, the owner of Pittsburgh-based sustainable fashion brand Catherine Trendz, also joins the cohort of makers who are new to Handmade Arcade. In addition to featuring many new regional and national makers, the event will also host 26 youth maker tables, a record for Handmade Arcade, including 10 new youth makers that range from fashion designers to fiber artists to jewelry makers, and more.
Shoppers will experience a thoughtfully composed market and meet the artists who create the innovative, affordable, handcrafted products for sale. Products include eco-conscious clothing, intricate jewelry, luxury handbags, unique accessories, and artwork. View the complete list of product categories and selected makers.
In the past, interactive experiences have included everything from live marching band performances to hands-on crafts, dance flash mobs, interactive demonstrations, and more. These activations delight and inspire the public and help them embrace and explore their own creativity.