The Pacific wood crafters of Galuti Club speak to a customer interested in their items.
Phia’s Creations’ Alana Camacho and Tori Weaver.
LOCAL small businesses gathered in the Kensington Hotel Lobby on New Year’s Eve for the Local Girls Marianas’s third Mini Night Market to bring more exposure to their merchandise.
Some were attending the event for the very first time.
Brands highlighted at the event included Saipan Surf Co., Xochitl, Galuti Club, Bakaden, Tanny’s Crafts, Finatinas I Tasi, Forever by Mariana, Leyah’s Nature Treasures, Phia’s Creations, Islandry670 and Boka.
Phia’s Creations, owned by Tori Weaver, made its first appearance at the Mini Night Market.
Weaver sells traditional island floral wear. When Variety spoke to her, she was selling ti leaf leis, ti leaf mwars, Songs of India mwars, and flower crowns.
“I learned how to make these when I used to dance,” Weaver said, referring to her time with a traditional dance troupe on Saipan. “I only started this business last year, so since then it’s been growing. I’ve been getting more orders.”
Weaver said her resolution includes “supporting local.”
“My New Year’s plan for Phia’s Creations is to be more locally involved in the community. Maybe in the future check out schools and help them learn how to make mwars,” she said, adding that she had already conducted a workshop at The Shack.
“It was a good turnout. I know what to do in the future. It’s nice to help other people try and make a side hustle,” she said.
Weaver said interested customers can reach out to her at @phiascreations.670 on Instagram.
Another brand debuting at the New Year’s Eve Mini Night Market was Ed Manibusan’s Saipan Surf Company.
His apparel brand focuses on skate and surf culture.
“I have a lot of pride in Saipan, the Marianas and our people,” Manibusan said of his brand. “Really it’s not just a representation of surfing but also of the CNMI.”
At the time Variety visited Manibusan, he was selling hats, quick dry rash guards and tank tops.
He said the Mini Night Market was a “fun time” with a “great audience.”
In 2024 he hopes his brand continues to grow and that he can continue to represent the CNMI through apparel.
Raymond Ilo and Finatinas I Tasi are no strangers to selling local spondylus and other shell jewelry. They have a presence on social media and were featured at Marianas Creations.
Ilo said in 2024, an area he is considering growing is his art style.
“I’m starting to try to get more into art where I engrave pictures into the shells,” Ilo said.
If he has access to a supply of large clam shells, he would also consider offering larger sinahis or New Moon necklaces than he currently makes, he said.
Mariana Tenorio and Forever by Mariana offer “forever jewelry,” which are delicate gold chains that are welded shut around a customer’s wrist.
Tenorio said if customers prefer it, she can instead add a clasp that allows the chain to come on or off.
For 2024, Tenorio wants to “get more involved in the community.” She added, “Hopefully we can bring other opportunities to other younger locals to start their businesses or just to learn about business in general.”
When Variety visited Tanny’s Crafts, owner Tanya Rogolofoi was busy putting together a crocheted flower for a customer.
Rogolofoi said she started her business in the summer of 2023 amid growing local interest in crocheting. She said the purple top she was wearing was self-made and “took hours,” while a separate top for sale took “all night.”
In 2024, Rogolofoi hopes to continue to attend opportunities like the Mini Night Market and to acquire a business license.
As for the event organizers, Local Girls Marianas’s Tiara Deleon Guerrero and Ashley Pangelinan, their general goals for 2024 include continuing to “make our community proud;” “represent our community well;” and “to highlight our fellow small businesses in art and [food and beverage].”
“For Local Girls Marianas, we definitely want to create some more events this year and we generally like having different themes and a special theme to look forward to,” Deleon Guerrero said. “We do enjoy putting these on for the community.”
She said she and Pangelinan are brainstorming ways to bring the Mini Night Market to Saipan’s eastern villages, possibly exploring a “flower fest” theme.
Deleon Guererro said the Mini Night Market could highlight coconut crabs or deer in a coming iteration in 2024, but no plans have been finalized yet.
For fans of their Local Girls Lemonada brand, Deleon Guerrero said she and Pangelinan will continue to farm the citrus ingredients they use in their beverages and will be experimenting with new recipes.
Aubrey Roberto visits Xochitl, run by Veronica Ariola, to get unicorn face paint.
From left, Raymon Ilo and Francisca Ilo of Finatinas I Tasi.
Gerald “Mamis” and Frankie Satur offer handwoven, coconut palm hats for sale.
Tokie Mojica is known for the Marshallese goods and other Pacific crafts she offers.
Tanny Rogolofoi, right, is the proprietor of Tanny’s Crafts, which offers crotched tops, flowers, and key chains.
Simon Necesito gives a “thumbs up” to the crowd at Kensington during the New Year’s Eve Mini Night Market.
The Forever by Mariana is operated by Mariana Tenorio, center.
