Gupta, who founded Mala Market in Montrose in May 2022, said supporting a strong, local economy is critical to other ideals she holds closely, including making communities more self-sufficient.
“My direct passion is trying to approach consumer waste with solutions, and that’s what this shop is,” Gupta said. “When we are able to localize our demand and supply of small consumer goods, it helps us become more self-sufficient as a community.”
Gupta founded Mala Market as a nonprofit collective space for small business owners local to Houston. Business owners are able to lease space, giving them a stable foundation for their businesses without a large financial or physical commitment.
The market works with dozens of local makers who earn 100% of the profits from what they sell, Gupta said.
“They’re not having to go through the whole pop-up process ... traveling to different markets every week, having to set up in a new place each time, which is not as financially productive,” she said.
For customers, Mala Market is a place where they can shop local for handmade items. At any given time, visitors might find handbags, accessories, candles, vintage clothing, artwork, skin care products or home decor items, among other gifts.
Makers are brought into the shop after a vetting process to make sure they can supply enough inventory, Gupta said. Makers can stay at Mala Market as long as they choose, she said, and the majority have been with the site since it opened.
For each product type, Gupta said she limits the number of makers in the store at one time to two per category, which she said is meant to keep competition from getting too high. Mala also hosts events with local service providers, which have included yoga workshops, candle making classes and creative writing classes.
An art studio and events space is housed on the market’s third floor, where visitors can view art for sale. Artists can use the space for free to showcase their work under an agreement where Mala Market receives a 20% commission for anything sold.
As a nonprofit, Gupta said she relies on donations to help keep the concept afloat. The venue celebrated its one-year anniversary in May, and Gupta said the support so far has been heartening.
“Word has spread naturally and organically,” she said. “The support we’ve gotten from the community has been beautiful.”
Mala Market
1302 W. Gray St., Houston
346-571-2965
www.malamarkethtx.com
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
