WICKER PARK — Seeking one-of-a-kind treasures, nearly 70,000 shoppers flooded Division Street for the Renegade Craft Fair over the weekend, while vendors — including an "Adventure Pants" company based in Melbourne, Australia — reported strong sales.
It was the word "relax" that prompted Ali Terkel, a 26-year-old student engagement coordinator from Columbia College, to plunk down $12 for a waterproof sign, which affixes to a shower wall by a suction-cup and says "relax."
"I get stressed out a lot and I need a lot of reminders," Terkel said of her favorite find, made by Seattle-based artist Rosalie Gale.
On Sunday, Liz Mason, manager of Quimby's Bookstore, was wearing a pink and gray hair clip with a pug dog face on it that she bought from Perpetually Yours Pets.
"I don't have a pug [dog] but I am enamored by them," Mason said.
Mason, who also bought two skirts from Philadelphia, Pa.-based Sardine Clothing Company, said she "tries to stay away" from Renegade Craft Fair because she finds it hard to resist the products.
"I will part with my money," Mason said.
Kara Salgado, executive director of the West Town Chamber of Commerce, which helps the fair set up its street closure permits, was sporting a new necklace made by Dallas Maynard, another vendor. Salgado said the fair, now in its 12th year, is "an economic engine for Division Street."
Renegade Craft Fair organizers were considering a relocation to Chicago Avenue because of CTA construction but Salgado said organizers ultimately decided that the fair could stay on Division.
Late Sunday, Rachel Dolnick, Renegade Craft Fair's vendor coordinator, estimated that between 60,000 and 70,000 people came to the free fair, with 40,000 counted near entrances and many more arriving through side streets.
"We could not have asked for better weather," Dolnick said.
Sales were so good for first time exhibitor Katy Robinson, maker of brightly patterned Adventure Pants, that Robinson said "stock would be slim" for next weekend's Brooklyn stop of the traveling fair.
"I have exceeded expectations for Chicago," Robinson said, while wearing a pair "Astronomy Pants" featuring the Northern hemisphere.
Robinson traveled to Chicago from Melbourne, Australia. Dolnick said many of the 300 vendors were from out-of-state.
To save costs on rising booth rental fees, which increased by $50 this year over previous years according to one vendor, many crafters shared booth space, such as map maker Cartografika, based in Ukrainian Village and Chicago jewelry maker Bashful Owl.
Booths are $250 for a shared space, $500 and $1,000.
"It's hard to predict volume-wise what we will do, so it's a safer bet to share costs, plus it adds variety to the booth" said Cartografika co-owner Jose Alarcon.
Boston-based doll maker Mimi Kirchner, returned to the fair for her fifth year, paying $500 for a booth and $250 to rent a tent with tables and chairs. On Saturday, she said, she was "having a really good day, sales-wise."
Echoing Kirchner, Allison Glancey, co-owner of print and poster company Strawberry Luna, said the booth fees are "still less than at a trade show" and "well worth it."
Denver, Co.- based jewelry maker Jessica Robin Thomas said she surpassed her sales from last year.
"Sorry I didn't get back to you last night. My phone was out of charge from using my credit card reader all day, sales were great!" Thomas said by text message early Monday.
Next weekend, the traveling Renegade Craft Fair heads to 50 Kent Ave. in Brooklyn, between 11th and 12th streets, for its September Brooklyn Market. Visit DNAinfo New York City here.
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