Lifestyle marketplace

Market OTB at Burj Park, a part of DSF 2016, is a fun place to explore and be entertained.

This DSF, Market OTB (Outside The Box) in Burj Park, close to the world-renowned Burj Khalifa, offers you an experience like no other. Surrounded by architectural inspirations, rich boulevards, and the enchanting Dubai Fountains, here is a venue you must visit for an unforgettable day in your life. Freedom permeates the air as children run around on green grass and even have their own designated play areas. There is a main stage in front of which there are plenty of beanbags where you can lounge around.
There are over 80 stalls, with young professionals showcasing their talents in different areas - fashion, art, business, with one thing uniting them all, their passion for whatever they do. The sounds of joyous music in the air from talented young Dubai-based artists add a carnival atmosphere to the venue. Motivational speakers challenge you to examine life and its meaning through innovative chats.
Entertainment
Market OTB boasts a jam-packed roster of entertainment. With performances by well-known music artists Hollaphonic, Adam Baluch, Stephon LaMar, Scott Forshaw, Juliana Down, Carl and The Reda Mafia, Francoise Crosbie and Abbo, there is definitely a beat to get you grooving whatever your taste might be. With the Red Bull Music Academy on board, Market OTB has top-level talent from across the Middle East in the form of Cosmo (Bahrain), Aaron Kim (UAE), DJ MoCity (UAE) and Zeid Hamdan (Lebanon).
Alongside the amazing live music, you have a packed programme of activities ranging from onstage drama, dance and poetry - including bedtime stories for children - to a special 'chill out' zone where you can read the latest novels in Park Central.
It's not all about the music with GMC presenting Cinema Akil - a 10-day programme of fashion films celebrating creative production and design.
Funky furniture
Looking for affordable luxury accent furniture and accessories? The Bowery Company is an online design concept store with an urban inspiration for gift hunting. On display are a curated selection of design furniture combined with edgy elegance from New York and Scandinavian countries.
Says Christiane, the owner of Bowery Company, "We import select brands of furniture and home ware, affordable luxury brands from Denmark, Sweden, New York and California. There are vases, candleholders, and kitchenware. We offer exclusivity, for example we have the light boxes, which have been specially created by a designer in Sweden. We also do handmade and customised mall signs produced in Berlin. So we have unique funky items."
"The UAE is an amazing place with both expats and Emiratis living together. Our target group is people between the ages of 25 to 45, urban customers looking for unique brands. We also do trunk shows online and in our lab section, we introduce emerging designers from Europe and the US," she adds.
Purposeful cloth dolls
Sahar Wahbeh is the founder of Dumyé (www.dumye.com), a company that creates beautiful and purposeful cloth dolls. She says, "We have dolls that we design and sell but we also have DIY doll kits where children get to design their own dolls. For every doll purchased, we gift a doll to an orphan and they get to make their own doll in our workshop.
"I have lived in Dubai for 10 years, my father is Lebanese, my mother is Palestinian and I was born in the US. Market OTB is such a great platform for up and coming designers to be able to showcase their talent to the community. It is one thing to have an online store, but it is another thing for people to be able to touch and see and feel and experience our brand."
Wearable fashion
Samah is associated with West LA Boutique and has a shop in Sunset Mall. "At the moment we are offering a variety of clothing for both men and women, along with accessories, shoes and homeware. Some of our items are on sale, with almost 30 to 50 per cent off. Visitors here love our stuff and the vibe is good.
"Outdoor community gatherings are getting more popular in the UAE and Market OTB represents Dubai urban culture taking place in a very popular place in the city - the Burj Park."
Monaya Fayoumi of the Monaya F brand says, "This is a ready-to-wear label for women that started a year ago and I now have my collection displayed in five different countries - UAE, Oman, Spain, Greece and Jordan.
"It is mostly casual wear with a Boho chic style. I do very exclusive pieces - just one piece per design. So my client would feel very different while wearing my outfit.
"I am a fashion designer from Lebanon, based in Muscat who also teaches the subject. I am here for DSF for 10 days. It is a great space for designers and caters to different tastes, cultures and nationalities. The market is nice and entertaining, not only for shopping but also for food, kids and music."
Wearable art
Meanwhile, SoH combines art and beauty in a seamless fashion. "This is an art gallery, super glam beauty lounge and a hangout for hipsters which is located at Galleria Mall on Al Wasl Road. It focuses on all things new, hip and cool. Every few months, the themes are changed and now it is pop art. You can even have art on your nails," says a spokesperson of the company.
Colourful candies
The papabubble caramel artisans promote their art of candy making through samples that entice visitors. These candies can be customised with bespoke designs to fit any theme.
Test your tastebuds
A wide range of restaurants ttantalise the taste buds of visitors at the venue. Foodies have plenty of food trucks and more to choose from. The market features a number of local restaurants including Lebaneesh and Maple Leaf; Shebi; Pinza (Pizza); Circle; Ka'ak Al Manara; Shawarma Station; Moti Roti.
The 21st edition of DSF captures the essence of the festival tagline 'Únwrap The Exceptional'. It's the innovation and nurturing community atmosphere evident in this vibrant Market that promotes local brands, entrepreneurs and creative concepts.