Unique SF is a must go

..if you’re into free things, DIY crafts, and putting a face to a name you see on etsy.
I’ve heard of Renegade, Bazaar Bizarre, Maker Faire, but this was my first encounter with Unique SF.
Word on the street is that due to the high popularity of “Unique LA,” the same group that founded the whole “UniqueCity” has expanded its reach to San Francisco, and this being its first time in the bay.

“Cool story, bro.” You’re right, whether or not it’s worth the hype lie solely on you. To help you decide if this actually worth taking one of your calendar space, here’s my experience:

↑ 10 bucks entry fee?! I was skeptical. Mainly because I’m pretty cheap – and I don’t recall paying an entrance fee for events of similar nature.

…buy HEY, free tote bag. Simplistic design and decent quality in material. Good stuff.

↑ Back of the bag.

Once I walked in, I noticed many brands priding over their handmade goodies. Recently, “handmade” seems to mean two things: 1.) Expect a way higher price range and 2.) It’s okay for the products to be imperfect. The phrase used to represent products so detail oriented that no machine can match the craft works of a human expert. But now, most brands uses the term more as a marketing technique than anything else.

Nifty.

I’m not sure how much it is to vend at the event (It’s around $400+ for a booth at Renegade,) so you’d see brands doing all that they can to trick out their space. Lots of inspirations just by walking around the venue.

↑ Lamps across the top’s a good touch.

Tricked-Out Tots by Ana Apple.

All graphics are hand-sewn on t-shirts and bags. Really cute stuff.

Love this guy’s illustration. Timber by Chad Eaton.

↑ Hand illustrated sign definitely caught my eyes. Thumbs up, indeed.

Lots of brands also have prints available. It makes sense, prints are fairly lower in price compare to other products. And if I would like to support an artists, yet not willing to spend a whole lot at the same time, prints would be the way to go. They’re also impulsive purchase items.

Unique SF = Lots of Cali/SF based things.

Moving onto the MAJOR sponsor of the show – Toyoto really laid down the hammer on this one! I’ll explain why:

With this brand on, you’ll get the following goodies:

Free hair braid. HAIR BRAID?!?! What kinda sponsor offer this type of services?! It’s surprisingly popular. All the ladies, while waiting in line to get the free t-shirt, got their hair braided in all kinds of ways. I’d get my hair done too if my hair were long enough.

Then, there’s the free screen-printed-in-front-of-yo-face t-shirts. Super long line to get your hand on one of them. Knowing what people are willing to do for free things, this was my first stop of the event.

30 minutes in, I could almost touch it.

Printed on American Apparel summer tee with water based ink, it’s not bad. Too bad the print would fade after first wash, it’s a sweet tee with pretty cool graphic nonetheless. 40 minutes wait? Sure.

Next, Toyota also offered in car(2012 Camry hybrid) photo shoots.

↑ Just saying.

Bad move on me, would’ve been a cool souvenir.

There’s also the DIY lounge:

I was able to make custom notebook (but I passed) and jewelry. Check. this. out!

↑ With the amount of people waiting in line to get assisted and hunting for material, it took me another 30 minutes to compete this bling’d out bracelete.

Last but not least, free BACK MASSAGES!!?? I was already running behind my schedule, so I didn’t get the free back rub. But dam, Toyota, thanks for spoiling us.

A cool area within the venue’s the Analog Zone by Digital Detox:

Free portraits. Type writers available for everyone to use.

Moving on.

Luna with their sample nutrition bars:

↑ De-Li-Cious.

Now we’re talking:

Free booze. The chardonnay’s pretty tasty. I heard they’re selling it for only $5 at major retail stores (Lucky, Walmart..etc), I’m definitely giving it a try next time I go grocery shopping.

A new vitamin water called Activate:

..where they release the vitamin minerals only when you twist the cap.

All natural coconut water from baby coconuts. So good, I grabbed two.

More free photo shoot:

Came across a pretty interesting product: ChocoBoost

It’s as simple as having chocolate in a syringe. But it tastes good and it feels kinky, so I grabbed 2.

↑Milk Chocolate and white chocolate.

Met Jen from Plastique at the event.

Based out of San Francisco, Jen makes unique plastic (ah, plastique) jewelries in shapes of boombox, city scape, and…

Yes, she understands. If these don’t break necks, I don’t know what will.