Malika Sharif (pictured above)
Fashion retailer, New Haven, Connecticut
How long have you been coming here?
Years. The vendors all know me. They’d wholesale to me for my store, Dare to Be Different. It was in Connecticut and closed because of the pandemic. Everything we stocked was odd. We had glasses where one eye was oblong and the other was round. People are still wearing clothes they bought from me years ago, because they say “I can’t find any fashion since you closed. When are you going to open back up?” I don’t know what’s next, but fashion is my passion. I wore zoot suits and carried canes way before they were popular.
Tell me about your hat.
It was designed by Matthews Hats. He’s from Trinidad, and he’s designed for Grace Jones, Patti LaBelle, Spike Lee. He likes me because I’m an outrageous type of person. This crown is called the Ice Bucket because it looks like an ice bucket with a bottle coming out the top. But, honestly, it’s nothing compared to my other hats. I have over 400 at home.
Marla Louissaint
Artist and activist, Washington Heights
Denise Borden-Miller
Teacher, Harlem
Do you live nearby?
I’ve been in central Harlem for a long time. My father had a business here in the ’70s selling bicycles; it was the first bicycle store in Harlem. The neighborhood has changed. My daughter moved out recently to Inwood. She felt bad about it because she couldn’t even afford to get an apartment in the building she grew up in.
Damon Reardon
Mental-health counselor, West Farms
Debbie Allen
Teaching assistant, Stamford, Connecticut
Alethia Townsend
Surgical technologist, Stamford, Connecticut
What are you here for?
To see this tailor who’s making an outfit for myself and my daughter for my godfather’s big party. We wanted something a little different than you find at the regular stores — I’m kind of a bling-bling person. And everybody’s always willing to help here. You ask a question to one vendor, they’ll take you to another vendor who knows the answer. It’s a little piece of heaven in Harlem.
Cheryl Chatfield
Mother, Harlem
Ruby Lewis
Teacher, Bushwick
Karey Glover
NYPD patrol officer, Westchester
Angel L. Bodon
Sewer-treatment worker, Castle Hill
Bernice Goodwin
Care manager, Harlem
Darlene Jackson
Retired teacher, South Bronx
Where are you coming from?
I was at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network rally. Judge Greg Mathis was there, and I had my picture taken with him, so I was super-happy. And then I got some catfish at Make My Fish on 116th Street. Then I figured I’d come and look for some mud cloth because I need some for my dining-room chairs. I’ve been renovating my apartment for five years straight.
Bobby Forman Muhammad
Retired steelworker, New Haven, Connecticut
Terri Davis
Jazz musician and teacher, Harlem
Jasmine Scott
Teacher, Lenox Hill
Arshanuel James
Self-employed, Harlem
Imari Carter
Student, Detroit, Michigan
Did you get anything today?
I bought an African skirt, shea butter, African black soap, a chandelier necklace with different colored beads — and a cherry ice from a cart. That’s a must every time. It’s been my favorite since I was a kid. I don’t switch it up. If I do try something else, it has to be mixed with cherry. Coconut cherry, mango cherry. It’s a classic.
Donald Fitzgerald
Animator, Morrisania
Jadira Ruiz
Medical receptionist, Harlem
Marla Louissaint
Artist and activist, Washington Heights
Denise Borden-Miller
Teacher, Harlem
Do you live nearby?
I’ve been in central Harlem for a long time. My father had a business here in the ’70s selling bicycles; it was the first bicycle store in Harlem. The neighborhood has changed. My daughter moved out recently to Inwood. She felt bad about it because she couldn’t even afford to get an apartment in the building she grew up in.
Damon Reardon
Mental-health counselor, West Farms
Debbie Allen
Teaching assistant, Stamford, Connecticut
Alethia Townsend
Surgical technologist, Stamford, Connecticut
What are you here for?
To see this tailor who’s making an outfit for myself and my daughter for my godfather’s big party. We wanted something a little different than you find at the regular stores — I’m kind of a bling-bling person. And everybody’s always willing to help here. You ask a question to one vendor, they’ll take you to another vendor who knows the answer. It’s a little piece of heaven in Harlem.
Cheryl Chatfield
Mother, Harlem
Ruby Lewis
Teacher, Bushwick
Karey Glover
NYPD patrol officer, Westchester
Angel L. Bodon
Sewer-treatment worker, Castle Hill
Bernice Goodwin
Care manager, Harlem
Darlene Jackson
Retired teacher, South Bronx
Where are you coming from?
I was at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network rally. Judge Greg Mathis was there, and I had my picture taken with him, so I was super-happy. And then I got some catfish at Make My Fish on 116th Street. Then I figured I’d come and look for some mud cloth because I need some for my dining-room chairs. I’ve been renovating my apartment for five years straight.
Bobby Forman Muhammad
Retired steelworker, New Haven, Connecticut
Terri Davis
Jazz musician and teacher, Harlem
Jasmine Scott
Teacher, Lenox Hill
Arshanuel James
Self-employed, Harlem
Imari Carter
Student, Detroit, Michigan
Did you get anything today?
I bought an African skirt, shea butter, African black soap, a chandelier necklace with different colored beads — and a cherry ice from a cart. That’s a must every time. It’s been my favorite since I was a kid. I don’t switch it up. If I do try something else, it has to be mixed with cherry. Coconut cherry, mango cherry. It’s a classic.
Donald Fitzgerald
Animator, Morrisania
Jadira Ruiz
Medical receptionist, Harlem
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