Francesca is one of the veterans of the flea market. She has been making her original hats in Ibiza since 87 and selling them at the Hippy Market.
She lived the hippie era in California, but that ended very quickly. At that time, Ibiza was already causing a sensation and she was very attracted to it. That’s why she decided to come, and when she saw that people could still live in that way here, she liked it a lot and stayed.
What does it mean for her to be a craftswoman?
She has spent her entire life dedicated to craftsmanship, and for her, the great value of being a craftswoman is being able to work for herself without having to cater to the desires of others. With her beautiful smile, she confesses that “it is having the freedom to follow your own path, creating things that truly make you happy.”
How is your day-to-day life?
He wakes up every morning to create his creative hats. He uses natural fibers to obtain unique and high-quality pieces, and always respects the same schedules; from 9 to 2 and from 5 to 8.
What place do you think craftsmanship occupies these days?
It is difficult to put everyone in the category of craftsman, she considers herself more of a designer. In the specific case of the hat making trade, which has been traditional for a long time, it has lost a lot with all the importation from China. The quality has declined a lot nowadays, as most of the materials they use to make hats are synthetic.
What does it mean to you to sell your hats at Hippy Market?
With nostalgia and gratitude, Francesca confesses to us that selling at the Hippy Market is already a routine for her. After almost 30 years of getting up every Wednesday to sell her hats, the little market has become a part of her life. She knows that every Wednesday she has to arrive early, set up her stand, and promote her product. Blessed routine!
What do you miss about the early years of the market?
She likes to live in the present and not miss the past. She simply feels grateful for having been part of that generation that changed so many things, and fought so much for the environment, for a healthier way of eating and living, and above all for respecting the planet. She feels proud that it was that generation who started this and that it has had an effect on the whole world that lasts to our days.