The Pop Up Flea NYC

This weekend, The Pop Up Flea sprang up at 82 Mercer St and said welcomed over 14,000 people in a matter of three days. It was such an effective retail experience that we popped in (different friends in tow each time) on Saturday and Sunday. It was entirely too easy to spend money. Practically everything is made in the US, much of it by smaller outfits who are creating some really tasteful goods. Wooden Sleepers, Todd Snyder for Champion, Fine Light Trading (Fred's favorite piece he picked up: a trench art skull ring for the pinky—not pictured here as it takes three weeks to hand-make an order), Topo Designs, and Billykirk deservingly received our attention and our money.

The Billykirk boys set up shop showcasing their expansive leather goods line. But they stole the show with their on-the-spot monogramming workshop. A variety of leather cuffs, key-chain pendants, leather dresser trays—Kirk was tapping away at them all with the concentration of a surgeon. Their no. 041 round key tags reminiscent of motel key chains were a fun buy ($25), functional, and customizable.

Monogramming is a curious thing. The instantaneous availability of it compels you to buy. We all want to put our name on some thing...our thing. Funny how these simple accessories are the ones you end up carrying every day. Personalizing it lifts it out of the ordinary and ensures they'll never be misplaced with someone else. Now if only we could manage not to misplace our keys before heading out the door.