This weekend, St. Louis’s best and brightest designers and indie crafters take over the atrium of Lumiere’ Place on the Landing for Indie Underground: Designer Market, a part of St. Louis Fashion Week hosted by the STL Craft Mafia. Attendees can shop designer trunk shows, same sales, and peruse local handmade wares to their hearts’ content. I sat down with April Tate from the STL Craft Mafia to get the details.

What is Indie Underground?

Indie Underground is the designer marketplace at STL Fashion Week.  It features several of the designers participating in the runway shows, plus the best of our local talent.  What’s unusual about this market is that it features both nationally-acclaimed rising fashion designers and local independent indie artists, side by side.

How did Indie Underground get started?

The STL Craft Mafia was invited to organize and expand the market this year and we brought in the best artists in the area.  We chose the name Indie Underground because it really reflects who we all are – independent artists and designers who work outside the mainstream.

What should attendees expect at the show?

Attendees should expect to meet the designers face to face and see the actual pieces they designed for the runway.  They will also have the opportunity to shop jewelry, accessories, upcycled wearables, housewares, etc.  There will be music (Friday night there will be live indie rock, a DJ the rest of the time) and two cash bars.

Indie Underground is a free event, held in the atrium of Lumière Place Hotel Friday and Saturday 11AM-8PM.

Courtney is a crafty, DIY contributor for Girls Guide. You can check out her personal blog at CourtneyChesley.com where she talks about everything under the creative sun, you can Email her at courtney [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @courtneychesley.