KwangJang Market -- Fabric, Fish, Veggies & Nuts!

This market is huge--at least a full city block square. There are rows upon rows intersected by alley after alley of vendor booths selling fabric galore--silks, ramie, cotton, linen, wool, rayon, polyester, mostly on the perimeter, fresh fish, veggies, and roasted nuts in the central corridor and along some alleys. All this is housed under a fiberglass tent-type roof top. One could wander for days (if not weeks) looking at all the wares. Truly a feast for all the senses!  

There are dozens of vegetable sellers, and everything looks and smells just-picked.  You can see that the produce is being washed and trimmed on the spot.  If I'd been home in Beijing or Marlborough, or anywhere near cooking facilities, I'd have picked out fish, veggies, and fresh spices to throw in the wok for dinner.  Notice the blanket/bed shop in the background?  

I love this little scene--the women are so poised, so nonchalant, one in her rubber fish-cleaning apron, and the other totally focused on sorting and weighing her chestnuts and other nuts. Even though this is one of the smaller markets in Seoul (no kidding), used mostly by local residents, they still paid me no heed, and didn't seem to mind my touristy picture taking. If I was going to create a quilt or other fiber art from a picture, this would be a top choice. Maybe... some day. During the couple hours I was there, dazed with sensory overload, I saw only two other foreigners. 

               The shops display rolls, bolts, and bags of fabric. I saw simple tailors' shops with suit- quality wool, and many elegant silk and embroidery shops with amazing finery and flurries of salespeople fluttery around measuring bridal parties for gowns and traditional ceremonial robes. 

Somewhat stunned by the enormity of it all, I finally stumbled on this shop with its rainbow of dyed silk and ramie yardage.  Unlike some of the larger markets in Seoul and Beijing, where sellers aggressively hawk their goods and refuse to sell less than an entire bolt/roll, KwangJang is known as a people's market, and this seller was happy to sell me a meter each (though no less!) of this collection of silk and ramie:  

Inspired by the memorable examples at Chojun Textile & Quilt Art Museum, I intend to try my hand at making some small Korean patchwork projects, or pojagi, with this fabric (pictures and descriptions of pojagi will appear very soon in a future post, under the title Chojun Textile & Quilt Art Museum, Part II).  

Comments

[Carol]

What a great market! Are you saying the silk and ramie are woven together into the same fabric? I look forward to seeing what you make from these wonderful solids.

[joni beach]

Wow, all I can say is that I would've Loved to be surrounded by all of that beautiful fabric!!!! How to choose!?! :) joni

[Etty Robinson]

Thanks, I'm enjoying this tour.
Fondly, Etty

[Annie]

Can't wait to see your patchwork. Your pictures are fabulous. sooo jealous.

[lee]

oh my god. ren would be in heaven.
where is this market?
ly
lee
p.s. ren says "hi and I wish I was there!"