A Visit To The Union Square Holiday Market In NYC

Each winter, New York City becomes just a little bit fairer as twinkling lights are strung high above the avenues, the 75-foot tall Rockefeller tree is ceremoniously lit, and the telltale red and white striped tents of holiday markets begin to pop up.
Of the many holiday markets to spring up around NYC—from the quaint Winter Village in Bryant Park to the charming Holiday Fair in Grand Central—it is the Union Square Holiday Market that continues to be an internationally renowned treasure for New Yorkers and tourists alike.

Taking place this year from November 16 until December 24, the Union Square Holiday Market brings together local vendors, craftsman and artisans to display and sell their unique goods. Set up like a veritable maze of garland lined stalls, the holiday market sells everything from Turkish ceramics to homemade apple cider donuts from upstate New York. Recently, Culture Trip took a trip to the Union Square Holiday Market to spotlight three vendors whose handmade products are internationally inspired and support larger causes.

Turkish ceramics from TribalHome

Tribal Home at the Union Square Holiday Market

TribalHome’s colorful array of mosaic lamps and ceramics are traditionally handcrafted and painted, lending each item a certain authenticity not found elsewhere.

Fair trade gifts at Marquet

There is a certain allure about handcrafted items that hail from far flung countries; an exoticism to that delicate necklace or knit scarf that isn’t found at other chain stores. At Marquet, everything sold promotes fair trade, in which fair prices are paid to artisans in third world countries—in this case Vietnam and Thailand. In other words, these gifts give back to global causes.

Handwoven scarves sold by Marquet are crafted by the Binh Minh collective in Northern Vietnam, where 20 families operate 25 looms to create up to 5,000 scarves per month. Likewise, textiles are crafted by the Ton Fai group in Thailand, who use a traditional style of weaving. Jewelry sold by Marquet originates from the Akha people who are an indigenous tribe scattered throughout Southeast Asia, which Marquet works with to provide over a hundred employment opportunities.

Nomi Network

It’s a brilliant handwoven blue necklace that first catches the eye when walking by the Nomi Network stall, then a simple white sign that reads, “All products are made by survivors and women at risk of human trafficking.” It’s immediately clear there’s a story here at Nomi Network, and it all begins with an eight-year-old human trafficking survivor, for which the brand is named for.

Co-founders Diana Mao and Alissa Moore met young Nomi while traveling in Cambodia back in 2008. Growing up in a rural village, Nomi had been subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of multiple men before moving to a special needs shelter with eight other girls. Today, Nomi is the epitome of survival, having grown into a beautiful woman who does not let the physical and emotional scars of her past define her future.

Nomi’s story of strife and survival inspired Nomi Network, which has a mission to “create economic opportunities for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking by equipping them with leadership, entrepreneurship, and production skills to become financially independent.” All products sold by Nomi Network are made by at-risk women and human trafficking survivors.

The Union Square Holiday Market is the perfect spot to pick up a unique holiday gift, while also losing oneself to the irresistible feeling of the holiday season. Donning a knit cap, enjoy walking among the red and white stalls with a cup of hot chocolate or warm pear apple cider in hand as the sound of Christmas carols mingle with the city soundtrack of New York.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.