Island Craft Market: Not Just for Hipsters, 55 Taiwanese and Japanese Local Brands Curated

Market events are thriving in Taiwan, and in recent years more and more brands that set up stalls have been taking part in markets abroad, meeting local creators and consumers and experiencing an atmosphere different from that of markets in Taiwan. With this experience, the Taiwan Day team that traveled to Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in May this year to take part in the "Mori, Michi, Ichiba" market launched "Island Craft Market" after returning to Taiwan, bringing together Taiwanese and Japanese brands with local character to convey the wonderful atmosphere they felt in Japan.

Japan's Mori, Michi, Ichiba includes outdoor activities such as music, camping and crafts, while Taiwan's Island Craft Market is held inside the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Ke Ya, one of the market's initiators and also the person in charge of Good Food Time Jam, said that "Island Craft" means good works from the island. This time 55 brands from the two islands of Taiwan and Japan were invited, covering arts and culture, textiles and craft design. Each brand has long been based in its local area, living and observing, nurtured by the soil and climate, and developing a unique personality and appearance. "When these brands are put together, they express themselves, and we feel they can represent the land they come from."

Taiwanese Brands: A Clear Expression of Self

Of the brands invited this time, Taiwanese and Japanese ones each account for about half. Ke Ya noted that "a clear expression of self, and one that has grown out of Taiwan," is the key criterion for selecting Taiwanese brands. "13 Coffee" from Taichung uses the clay pots commonly seen in Taiwan to roast coffee beans, giving the beans a mellow flavor with a very pronounced body; Ke Ya describes this texture as much like "Taiwan's local character." Nantou-based "Xian Ye Zuo" develops plant-dyeing and weaving experience activities based on the natural environment, and its leaf prints and woven works reflect the creators' life in the mountains. Changhua's "Good Food Time Living Kitchen" uses local Taiwanese ingredients to make jam, expressing Taiwan through the aroma of food.

(This article was funded by the Jianzhen Environmental Education Foundation for personnel expenses, but the foundation in no way interferes with news topic selection or interview writing, ensuring journalistic independence.)