ABOUT LONDON ALTERNATIVE MARKET
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London Alternative Market is situated in Revolutions Bar on Leadenhall Street, London. It is a community supporting market project that welcomes many alternative lifestyles and is held on the first Sunday of every month.
From 12pm-6pm LAM hosts a range of market store-holder's with a diverse range of BDSM, Fetish and Kink objects. After 7pm the Sub-basement is transformed into a play space where buyers can show off their newly purchased objects.
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HISTORY
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“I’d been on the scene and kinky for 4 or 5 years, a bunch of the store-holders actually approached me and said, you’re a bit smart, you look like you can organise things, would you run an event for us?
There was another event occurring at the time, but for various reasons it was not being managed as professionally as it should. So I said, tell you what, um if you can get 13 of you to ring me on Wednesday afternoon between 3 o’clock and 7 o’clock, i'll tell you what I planned. And literally they all rang me and I said ok, I want a community focussed market, I want a hand off everyone who goes through the door to go to good causes, I want workshops, I want education, I want stage performance, and they were all just like woah! And im like yeh I wanna just mix the whole thing up as much as possible and create something which is more cohesive, brings everyone together, and that was in 2006. Since then we’ve been though 7 or 8 different venues, started at the Clapham ground in Clapham Junction, the rise bar in Clapham junction, a place called bar 242 in Suffolk , um America square , here in Leadenhall. We’ve also got the specials so we take over whole hotels, we’ve got the country retreat and the summer fate. So we just do everything that is kinda like mad and kinky and different, and interfaces with socialising, education, entertainment and shopping then we’re gonna do it!" (John, LAM Crew)
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How did you get involved in LAM?
Participants came to be involved with LAM in a variety of ways.
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While some discovered LAM through close friends or play partners, others had found it advertised on online websites or social media.
Those who attend LAM ultimately come from a broad range of cultural backgrounds, ages and lifestyles, though all with an interest in the BDSM, Kink and Fetish community and its specific objects.
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"My very first LAM I spent my time helping out behind the scenes and I found that doing that role, being part of the community, coming in and doing all the lifting, its great! We get here at 8 in the morning , we lift all the boxes,we get the market in, we help the market stall-holders , we help get things set up for the play party afterwards. We patrol and make sure people are having a good time. Its fun you know, and if people are looking for something we can direct them towards it. It’s a big part of giving something back, that’s what drew me in and why im still here." (Peter, LAM crew)
How did you get involved in LAM?
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Through an analysis of all the interviews conducted, three factors emerged as the main reasons people attended LAM.
Firstly, LAM offered participants the opportunity to browse and buy custom made BDSM, Fetish and Kink objects. Secondly, LAM with its store-holders and crew, helped to increase participants knowledge of such objects and the important bodily techniques required to use them efficaciously. And thirdly, numerous buyers and store-holders identified LAM as a means of engaging,practicing and celebrating the BDSM, Kink and Fetish community.
Browsing and buying BDSM,kink and fetish objects
"I find it quite nice, people are lovely you can talk to the stalls, a lot of the things are handmade, so they know how to use them, they know what would not be safe but also ask questions and all these things." (Mike,buyer)
"For me im still browsing, I havn't bought anything, it's just to compare things. A chance to see some of the materials in person because i've been doing research recently, so I’m more aware of the materials. I’m not a designer but I have an appreciation for it." (Luca, buyer)
Increased knowledge of BDSM,Kink and Fetish objects and techniques of use
“For us it’s almost like a learning experience. Because people are often really open to talk about it and if you go ‘I’m a bit new to this!’ They’ll explain things properly instead of you just getting something and doing it wrong. We’ve already had a few chats already with a few people who’ve kind of introduced us to a few things that we’ve learnt. I think that’s the benefit of coming to somewhere like this really, it’s just having that kind of advisory that someone else has had that experience previously. There’s forums and stuff on Fetlife where people have like writings about it, but it's just a bit of a minefield as to what link to click on. Whereas here (at LAM) you just go question, answer and that’s it, it’s done.” (Dan and Lucy, buyers)
Engaging with the BDSM,Kink and Fetish Community
"A lot of people come and go 'Oh it’s a sex market!' (mocking voice). But no, no, no, this is just a normal market, it’s just a Sunday market. These people know each other for so long, they go on holiday, know each other’s families, cos they see each other every month. And there aren’t many other events. So, when the newbies see that they think that brings down the fear a little bit.” (Kat, buyer)
"A bit of both community and feeling objects, you might find something worth buying but the main reason I come to events now is to get to now people in the area, network , socialise, have a bit of fun, have a good chat" (Connor, buyer)
"I think what LAM does is involve people that want to learn more and be active on the scene. Theres also lots of support as part of the scene- your not just going and taking and leaving but theres lots going on." (Josie,buyer)