The Handmade Market is a semiannual shopping event in downtown Raleigh, NC. It features a juried selection of the best and brightest artists, independent designers, and crafters from NC and beyond.

The event is produced by The Handmaidens, a North Carolina collective of independent designers, and is made possible with the generous support of our Event Sponsors and Volunteers.

History of The Handmade Market

The Handmaidens created The Handmade Market after recognizing that there are few quality shows in the Southeast that cater to the region’s flourishing independent art and design scene. Taking matters into their own hands, they created The Handmade Market to promote the area’s emerging artists and to provide them with a venue for selling their work.

35 designers joined The Handmaidens for the first Handmade Market on May 6, 2006. It was an overwhelming success, with customers waiting in line for the doors to open and arriving in droves throughout the day.

After a successful first event, The Handmaidens made The Handmade Market a semiannual shopping event. Now Triangle residents look forward to two superb shopping events — our Spring event in May, timed perfectly for shopping for unique handcrafted Mother’s Day and graduation gifts, and our Fall event in early November that kicks off the holiday shopping season.

Join The Handmade MarketIf you are interested in being a part of the next Handmade Market, read more about the jury requirements and application process and sign up for our newsletter to be informed when the next Call for Vendors is released.