Monthly Mujeres Makers Market pops up on Santa Barbara’s Eastside

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A new monthly makers’ market is on Santa Barbara’s Eastside. Women of color started the Mujeres Makers Market for other women of color. The market is on the first Sunday of every month at the corner of Milpas and Cota Streets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Maritza Flores is one of the co-creators of the Mujeres Makers Market. She said there's a variety of vendors. “We have a large selection of artisanal goods from either Mexico," said Flores. "We also have candles to anything to do with desserts. We also have cookies jewelry, hand-made jewelry.”

Most of these sellers got their start online. During the pandemic five of them saw a need to help minority women that the pandemic hit hard.

Lili Muñoz is another co-creator. She said, “Latina women have been the most affected with losing their jobs during COVID. So I think it’s important to highlight people of color just because there’s still like certain gaps that everybody knows about.”

Jaimie Parsons and Perci Gestecoste bought items from the market.

“We were driving by and we saw this beautiful market and we all knew that we needed to stop and see,” said Parsons.

“I like shopping local," said Gestecoste. "I support local businesses. As much as possible I shop local, because we’re both artists and we like to support local artists.”

At Sunday's market, there’s a young entrepreneur getting her first taste in business. And she doesn’t plan to use the proceeds on herself. Seven-year-old Padne Valentina started selling her Padne's Fresh Pops to help someone in the community.

“I am also raising money for a guy named Christian," said Valentina. "He’s a fisherman that lost his arm.”

And that giving community spirit is what organizers say this monthly pop-up market is all about.

Organizers are planning to have the next Mujeres Makers Market on Sunday, October 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.