Despite everything that the last year of the pandemic took away from us, one of the things it did give many of us was time at home. Lots and lots (and lots) of time. With all that time on our hands, whether in Beijing or abroad, it’s no surprise that our minds ended up wandering towards some of life’s bigger questions.
That is exactly how Beijing residents Pilaxy and Julie – aka P&J – came up with the idea for a new project, Me Market, making its debut at Tongli Market in Shunyi on Saturday, Jun 19. The disruption to their routines and the time they spent in lockdown prompted the duo to reconsider their roles in life, both in Beijing and beyond. Were they professionals, wives, mothers, or something else? How does this influence how society sees them and what potential might they have outside of these roles?
P&J came up with the idea for Me Market after discussing their dream of opening a sandwich company — which they are debuting at the market!
Me Market offers a platform — in the form of a craft market, as the name suggests — for people who may feel constrained by their role in life and want an outlet to express themselves creatively. That might be via a side hustle that they hope to turn into something bigger or just a personal passion project. “When we are in constant search for a sense of belongingness to one group or another over the course of our lives, at times we can get lost or feel trapped by different values or roles,” Julie explains.
P&J hopes that Me Market will not only be a place to sell things, but also a place for the community to connect and where people can feel comfortable talking openly about their personal goals and anxieties. In line with the theme of the event, all of the vendors’ booth rental fees are being donated to Beijing-based mental health non-profit CandleX, an organization that aims to increase awareness and knowledge of depression and bipolar disorder and reduce the social stigma attached to mental illness.
The market will feature a diverse range of vendors, some of whom are hosting a stall at this kind of market for the first time. There will also be a number of charities present at the market, including Lost Puppies and Love and Hope, the latter of which provides vocational training courses to migrant and rural left-behind teenagers.
Grade 4 student Claire makes handmade coasters
P&J also hopes that the market will set a positive example for children and teens in terms of opening up about mental health and other personal issues. “How can we as adults be role models for our children? How do our next generation see us?” Pilaxy asks. “[Through Me Market we want to show that] we are all different and we all have a story to tell.” Several young people will have their own stalls at the market, such as Grade 11 student Ashely, who started her press-on nails idea “Are You Pressed?” for her IB CAS project, and Grade 4 student Claire, the youngest vendor at the market, who designs and hand-makes coasters.
“Every big leap starts with a baby step,” Julie says. “With this market, Pilaxy and I are sharing our baby step with you. It is our hope that our baby step will motivate more people to dream about their own big leap.” Catch Me Market at Tongli Market on Saturday, Jun 19, from 11am to 6pm. If you would like more information about this event or future events, please contact Julie (WeChat ID: babyonthebus).
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Images courtesy of the organizers