Handcrafted Goods By AAPI Makers. Mayumi Market Brings Community And More To LA's Flea Scene

From a chef, personal trainer, DJ, to even a corporate job in sales and marketing — Mayumi "Kat" Matutina has done "all kinds of stuff" before deciding to start a small business selling candles and organic cosmetics five years ago.

"I hand-make everything," Matutina said. But making the products is just the first step; finding an audience is another gig in itself, which led her to hit up different flea markets around Los Angeles to grow her brand.

What Matutina couldn't have anticipated is that she would start her own flea — one that's centered around Asian Amerian and Pacific Islander artists and creators and, just as importantly, around having an awesome good time.

"My friends always say that Mayumi Market is like the hot girls market. It's all like Asian bad bitches and all cool," she said.

A shopper at Mayumi Market.

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Mayumi Market

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The fleas

Flea markets are such a thing in L.A. that they are staples in guide books and on best-of lists. The granddaddy of them all is arguably the Rose Bowl Flea Market, which started in 1968 and has since welcomed, on average, 20,000 visitors every second Sunday of the month.

There are also the Silverlake Flea, the Los Feliz Flea, Melrose Trading Post, the Santa Monica Airport Antique Market, the PCC Flea Market and so many more that cater to those looking for something unique, antique, or just plain useful and cheap.

The flea that inspired Matutina to strike out on her own was Black Market Flea.

"It's a huge market, and it's all black creators, black music — DJs, art, everything. And so I thought that was amazing," Matutina said. "And so I was like, that would be cool if there was an Asian version of this because there's so many different Asian people in Southern California."

Mayumi Market

The opportunity came in May this year when a community space in Glendale asked Matutina for her ideas to celebrate AAPI Month. With that, Mayumi Market was born in the nonprofit's back parking lot, featuring 30-some vendors she curated.

"Most of my vendors sold out within the first hour or two and we still had like six hours to go," Matutina said. "So many vendors tell me that was the best one they had ever done in their life, so I just wanted to keep doing it."

By its next pop-up in July, Mayumi Market had moved to Common Space Brewery, in Hawthorne, for its warehouse feel and large outside patio. Some 1,600 people showed up to that event — a number that jumped to 2,000 in September — to check out the handcrafted goods from more than 40 vendors. And not to mention, to soak in the scene with a live DJ, get inked by a tattoo artist, or learn the art of mahjong from Mahjong Mistress.

"So with the market scene, there'll be these makers markets where people [are] selling candles and jewelry during the day. And then the night ones will have DJs, music and more food," she said. "I try to take the best of both where it feels like a party, but it's a daytime event."

In October, Mayumi Market had their biggest turnout to date with 2,700 visitors, when Matutina brought together a slate of Filipino vendors to celebrate Filipino American History Month.

"With Filipino communities, their whole family turns up, so one single baker bringing their baked goods and their mom, their dad, their grandparents, and their aunties would be there. And they were dancing, they were eating, they were enjoying everything," said Matutina, who is Filipina American. "So to just be around all your friends and family and people that look like you — it's just really wholesome."

Studio Bubby, a digital design studio and one of the vendors, at Mayumi Market.

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Mayumi Market

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Its growing popularity notwithstanding, Mayumi Market is still largely a one-woman crew. Matutina pretty much does it all — from the curation of the vendors and performers, to social media marketing, to setting up and breaking down the market — with assistance from a small group of volunteers who started out as fans of the flea. Meanwhile, Matutina's still running her brand of handmade products.

Her hope is to increase the frequency of the flea market — to make it bigger, better, and even more fun.

After all, the makers and creators are out there, as well as an audience hungry for the work.

"It's our time right now, honestly, the AAPIs are thriving," Matutina said.

The next event

Mayumi Market
Date: Sunday, Nov. 26
Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m
Location: Common Space Brewery, 3411 W. El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne