Eid chronicles: Chaand Raat celebrated at special night market
Young entrepreneurs set up several stalls, offering diverse products
A total of 20 stalls of young entrepreneurs and seed stage businesses were set up at the event. PHOTOS: HUMA CHOUDHARY/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Fairy lights, hand-made Eid cards, pom pom bangles, gol gappay, fancy kurtas, hand-made pottery and crafts amid the hustle and bustle of excited visitors would best describe the Chaand Raat Special Night Market at Kuch Khaas.
The thematic vibe was definitely merrier and more festive than the usual weekly night markets. The Eid vibe could be felt in the pepped up ambiance of the lush green open-air veranda of Kuch Khaas as it was lit up in lights and cultural ornaments.
A total of 20 stalls of young entrepreneurs and seed stage businesses as well as The Lime Tree’s food stalls were up and running. Products as diverse as kurtas, shirts and hand-made Eid cards, food items from gol gappay, beef rolls, tikkas, home-baked cakes and set ups such as song dedication booths donned the stalls.
Sky lanterns, organic raw foods, home décor items such as trucks, key-chains and jewellery boxes were also some of the hot items.
Upon entering the venue, there were five new stalls being run by these interns. The internship programme at Kuch Khaas gave them the chance to experiment with their entrepreneurial streak and learn business. Interns and sellers Huma Niazi and Fatima Junaid stayed up all night to make hand-made candles and duct tape wallets. The candles were in purples and blues with shimmering glitters and the green and white wallets had chaand sitara signs on them. “The response has been great. People are appreciating our work and we have sold about five pieces,” said Niazi.
Architect Arwa Abid and her friend Amina el Adroos, who previously sold clothes and jewellery, had included hand-made Eid cards in yellows and blues in collage form, and home-baked chocolate cakes and brownies.
Hipflask owner Raheem Khan was seen at the event with his retro and quirky accessories and décor items. “I have been here throughout the Thursday markets and the response has been positive, as it was today. I wish more places gave such opportunities to small businesses to showcase their collections,” he said.
A new clothing brand called Aks, introduced by Iqra University graduate Kashif and his friends, was also on display. “This is the first time we are displaying our clothes and people are appreciating our designs but we have only made two sales so far,” he said.
Another newly introduced brand of purses, jewellery and pottery by the name of Creative Xpressions was run by a Fatima Jinnah University art graduate Kandeel Zahra and her sister Kalee Zahra. “The response has not been good. People come, look at the products but do not buy anything. In fact, they do not even appreciate anything,” said Kalee.
Other brands were of organic food and another unbranded business specialising in honey products. They said their response was slow as well.
Probably the most in demand products were the lemon, mango and orange slush and the beef roll parathas. Most business owners, however, were content as the night market gave them direct selling experience and a chance to understand the clientele.
“We are providing a space for young entrepreneurs to sell their products. Also, it is a place of meaningful entertainment for people,” said Kuch Khaas Manager Programmes Aashir Khan.
The Thursday night market is actually the summer version of the farmer’s market. The night market will start again from July 30.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2015.
Fairy lights, hand-made Eid cards, pom pom bangles, gol gappay, fancy kurtas, hand-made pottery and crafts amid the hustle and bustle of excited visitors would best describe the Chaand Raat Special Night Market at Kuch Khaas.
The thematic vibe was definitely merrier and more festive than the usual weekly night markets. The Eid vibe could be felt in the pepped up ambiance of the lush green open-air veranda of Kuch Khaas as it was lit up in lights and cultural ornaments.
A total of 20 stalls of young entrepreneurs and seed stage businesses as well as The Lime Tree’s food stalls were up and running. Products as diverse as kurtas, shirts and hand-made Eid cards, food items from gol gappay, beef rolls, tikkas, home-baked cakes and set ups such as song dedication booths donned the stalls.
Sky lanterns, organic raw foods, home décor items such as trucks, key-chains and jewellery boxes were also some of the hot items.
Upon entering the venue, there were five new stalls being run by these interns. The internship programme at Kuch Khaas gave them the chance to experiment with their entrepreneurial streak and learn business. Interns and sellers Huma Niazi and Fatima Junaid stayed up all night to make hand-made candles and duct tape wallets. The candles were in purples and blues with shimmering glitters and the green and white wallets had chaand sitara signs on them. “The response has been great. People are appreciating our work and we have sold about five pieces,” said Niazi.
A total of 20 stalls of young entrepreneurs and seed stage businesses were set up at the event. PHOTOS: HUMA CHOUDHARY/EXPRESS
Architect Arwa Abid and her friend Amina el Adroos, who previously sold clothes and jewellery, had included hand-made Eid cards in yellows and blues in collage form, and home-baked chocolate cakes and brownies.
Hipflask owner Raheem Khan was seen at the event with his retro and quirky accessories and décor items. “I have been here throughout the Thursday markets and the response has been positive, as it was today. I wish more places gave such opportunities to small businesses to showcase their collections,” he said.
A total of 20 stalls of young entrepreneurs and seed stage businesses were set up at the event. PHOTOS: HUMA CHOUDHARY/EXPRESS
A new clothing brand called Aks, introduced by Iqra University graduate Kashif and his friends, was also on display. “This is the first time we are displaying our clothes and people are appreciating our designs but we have only made two sales so far,” he said.
Another newly introduced brand of purses, jewellery and pottery by the name of Creative Xpressions was run by a Fatima Jinnah University art graduate Kandeel Zahra and her sister Kalee Zahra. “The response has not been good. People come, look at the products but do not buy anything. In fact, they do not even appreciate anything,” said Kalee.
Other brands were of organic food and another unbranded business specialising in honey products. They said their response was slow as well.
A total of 20 stalls of young entrepreneurs and seed stage businesses were set up at the event. PHOTOS: HUMA CHOUDHARY/EXPRESS
Probably the most in demand products were the lemon, mango and orange slush and the beef roll parathas. Most business owners, however, were content as the night market gave them direct selling experience and a chance to understand the clientele.
“We are providing a space for young entrepreneurs to sell their products. Also, it is a place of meaningful entertainment for people,” said Kuch Khaas Manager Programmes Aashir Khan.
The Thursday night market is actually the summer version of the farmer’s market. The night market will start again from July 30.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2015.