Under the blazing sun on June 13, people strolled along Santana Row Makers Market to listen to music, shop and meet local craftsmakers. Vendors sold an assortment of handcrafted accessories, clothes, jewelry and wellness products.
The Makers Market Local Artist Street Fair takes place every second Saturday of the month at Santana Row. The event brings vendors from San Jose and nearby to display their work and sell to people passing by.
The Makers Market is an organization separate from Santana Row that manages the application and permits of local vendors. The organization sets up monthly markets in San Jose, Lafayette, Napa and Mill Valley.
While standing under the shade waiting for clients, Shella May, owner of Hella Crystals, said she enjoys selling crystals and crystal jewelry to locals. May started making her products during the COVID shutdown, before deciding to launch it into a side business.
“I feel like, you know what? Let me start sharing them,” May said. “I started by giving them as gifts, and then, people asking for certain things, and I started selling them.”
The stand was filled with bowls of colorful crystals and handmade crystal bracelets. May works as a yoga instructor and often sees her students shopping at the fair.
“It’s a really great community,” she said.
Fatima Corona is a member of the class of 2027 at San Jose High School.
Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Program for Bay Area high school students, an intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.