As Cierra Dinnen, a San Francisco resident, goes on her daily morning walk, she sees a sign that reads “Fog City Flea” pointing towards the iconic Ferry Building Marketplace.
“Well, this is my first time here.
So I started with pride stuff, and then I made some cottage core stuff, and so now it’s Halloween, and then obviously we’re getting into Christmas soon.
When she noticed that many of her friends and family started showing interest in her products, she turned her jewelry making into a business opportunity.
Similarly, Pauline Maccay, the owner of Handmade by PMaccay and another vendor at Fog City Flea market, hopes that her products will allow her customers to feel more confident.
“I want everyone to be able to wear the earrings; I don’t want it to be gendered.
As in Ferko’s case, many of Maccay’s friends and family members began to wonder where these jewelry pieces came from.
“I am obsessed with earrings, so I just started making all these earrings out of clay.
“I created a pair of earrings that was inspired by the blue and white porcelain that my grandma collected when I was growing up.
Bringing my story and culture in, I hope it will make a difference, and it will inspire others similar to me to do their thing,” Maccay said.
“I think that we thrive most on the community, and the communities around us are what sustains us and also makes us happy.