COLLECTORS’ FAYRE A FIRST FOR THE BAY

[con]fuze Fayre organisers Elsje Smuts and Craig Pannell showing off a cross section of collectibles which will be on display and for sale at the event on 21 & 22 July at Walmer Park Shopping Centre.

Passionate collectors of all persuasions will discover sought-after items to add to their treasures when Port Elizabeth’s first vintage, retro, geek, collectibles, cosplay and hobbies fayre comes to Walmer Park Shopping Centre on July 21 and 22.

[con]fuze, as the annual event has been named, promises to fuse an eclectic mix of intertwined interests, designed to attract young and old.

According to organisers Elsje Smuts and Craig Pannell, the time is right for the Bay to host such an inclusive and comprehensive event.

“The age of the collector is most certainly upon us,” said Pannell.

“Gone are the days of fringe sub-cultures being only for the collector or the hobbyist or the geek – these different sub-cultures are now more widespread than ever and have become, in a real sense, mainstream.”

He said Port Elizabeth had hosted successful hobbies fairs and toy shows in the past, but that the last one had happened more than a decade ago.

“While PE is home to some very good antique and vintage shops, it has never hosted a comprehensive retro or collectibles fair,” he said, adding that the Bay had also seen good growth in geek-related conventions and activities.

Pannell said the interest in the event from the Bay’s thousands of collectors, hobbyists, geeks and cosplayers had been significant so far.

“Whatever you are collecting or however you express your passion, the acquisition of quality pieces is becoming more of an art than ever before.

“The aim of [con]fuze is to create an authentic platform for young and old to share in these vastly different yet connected experiences and interests.”

Smuts said the quality of stalls on offer would be high, with national exhibitors including steampunk designer Lynette Penny, Johannesburg-based graphic artist Mel Dixon, and Cape Town cosplayers Anzel Schutz and Genevieve Lesch.

“This event is all-encompassing. We have displays of the more ‘traditional’ collections, such as vintage cars, rugs, stamps and antique jewellery, and we also have modern and vintage TV games and comics, handmade geek jewellery, cosplay, and comic and graphic art.”

She said collectibles on display would include coins and medals, books and photographs, as well as Star Wars, Coca-Cola, and garage-related memorabilia.

“On the toy side, we have everything from model cars and trains to Meccano and Lego, handmade ragdolls, action figures, rocking horses and vintage tinplate toys.”

For those interested in handcrafted items, Smuts said the line-up featured handmade knives and pens, wooden lamps and clocks, leather goods, quilting, hand-knitted items and glasswork.

She said a limited number of spaces were still available for prospective stallholders and stringent selection criteria would apply.

For more information, contact Smuts on elsje@truebluecommunication.co.za or 082 873 7663.