Finders Keepers: La Brocante Is The Vintage Store That Puts The Thrill Back Into Thrifting
In the market for statement vintage furniture or limited-edition décor? Make a bee-line for Dubai’s newest interiors thrift shop at La Brocante
Every major city in the world has a flea market where locals and tourists bump elbows as they hunt for a bargain. Arguably the most famous flea market of all is on London’s Portobello Road. The very same market where Natasha Fownes, founder of La Brocante, spent countless weekends in her youth, rummaging through piles of knick-knacks to find a hidden gem.
“My mother has a passion for using French words and coined the term ‘La Brocante’ to describe our weekend jaunts browsing antique stalls in Portobello,” says Natasha. She goes on to explain brocante, which means ‘flea market’ in French. “Browsing for me was always about finding unique, gorgeous pieces that were no longer available in stores.”
These treasured childhood memories were the inspiration behind her own pop-up furniture flea market in Al Quoz that Natasha runs every two weeks. The name La Brocante, serves as a tribute to those days with her mother. A homegrown concept that focuses on unique vintage, pre-loved and upcycled furniture. The market also provides a platform for local artists to thrive and showcase their work.
Walking through La Brocante you immediately notice a sense of community. Natasha aims to bring people together, aided by warm cups of coffee from local roastery, Loose Unicorns. “We are a community,” she says. “Our pop-up draws lovers of the unique and the intriguing in their hunt for hidden gems of design and décor,” Natasha continues.
La Brocante was launched in November 2020 as a result of the Covid crisis. “We realised there was a big turnover of people leaving during the pandemic, which got me thinking, how can I create a homegrown space for people to come together to browse for an eclectic mix of unique, high-end furniture and accessories from different eras at affordable prices?”
The pieces are sourced from all over the UAE, and Natasha welcomes offers from people looking to sell items, too. “You would be surprised what one can find on the side of the road,” she smiled.
Sometimes Natasha receives requests from people seeking specific pieces. “Clients are looking for bespoke, uncommon treasures to uplift their homes,” she explains. “We get lots of enquiries from people looking for distinctive pieces of furniture and art, which we endeavour to find.” Soon, she plans to host workshops in collaboration with local artisans, carpenters and craftspeople.
Although on the surface La Brocante is about buying and selling, for Natasha there’s an underlying joy found in seeing the market thrive in Dubai. “Ultimately, we know that ideas like this organically evolve into authentic friendships and networking opportunities based on mutual interests,” she says, “and that’s the most rewarding part of this entire exercise.” @labrocantedxb / +971 50 186 5149
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia July-August 2021 Issue.