Rumble in the Jumble is marking a decade in the capital, and to celebrate this milestone, they are hosting a special Rumble Renaissance event at Catherine de France this Saturday (Sep 13).
In Beijing, maintaining an initiative for ten years is quite an achievement, and we at the Beijinger are always thrilled to witness the success of organizations like Rumble in the Jumble. Over the last ten years, their events have evolved from quirky jumble sales held in small hutong bars to large-scale bazaars that have played a significant role in launching some of the city's most cherished independent brands.
From unique charity events like Ruff & Rumble to a Tattoo Festival, Rumble in the Jumble's bazaars feature a diverse mix of vendors and have become an integral part of the Beijing community. The journey hasn't always been smooth, though, with COVID-related cancellations, the departure of key organizer Charlotte White, and other challenges along the way. Nevertheless, Rumble has thrived, and ten years in this bustling city is certainly a reason to celebrate.
In anticipation of Saturday's event, we spoke with Fran Hanshing, who took over from White after her exit.
When and why did you first become involved with Rumble in the Jumble? My initial experience at Rumble was in 2016 when my brand, Velveteen's Secret Potions, had already been established for two years. I was always on the lookout for exciting venues to showcase my potions. I met Antoine, who was then working with Hot Cat Club in Fangjia Hutong. He told me about a pop-up market they were hosting and introduced me to one of the organizers, Helen. I contacted her and applied, and since then, I haven't missed a single Rumble event.
I remember each market at Hot Cat Club being warmly intimate and somewhat underground. While it mainly focused on second-hand items, a few crafters were attracted to its alternative audience. That distinctive element fascinated me. Rumble has consistently radiated heart and passion. It was never pretentious, yet had a meaningful purpose: fostering a community built on authentic connections. It felt like a large family.
How does it feel to be celebrating ten years of Rumble in the Jumble? The journey hasn't always been easy. Since I've been with Rumble from the start, I’ve seen many venues and various emerging brands, with some achieving success while others faded quickly. Rumble is always there to not just help you launch your idea but also to maintain a stable platform for testing and engaging with new potential customers. Conscious consumers are open to hearing our stories but also have certain expectations, so we continuously adapt to our audience… reigniting our passions… We are the result of creativity ignited by passion.
What does Rumble mean to you? When Charlotte (one of Rumble's founders) announced she was moving back to her home country, some regular vendors panicked! “Who will keep organizing the event?!” Personally, I always appreciated Charlotte's dedication to organizing Rumble, as managing an event takes considerable time, and she did it every month! After she left, I took over Rumble in 2021 with the support of other regular vendors, and together we began to manage pop-ups. That's when I truly grasped her contribution to keeping a platform alive and helping other brands shine!
These days, I can’t organize markets every month, but every event we coordinate with the Rumble Team showcases something special. For instance, at our upcoming Rumble Renaissance on Sep 13, we will host our first fashion show!
What have been some of your favorite past Rumble events? Since I began leading Rumble's events, the one that truly highlighted our capabilities was Rumble EXOTIKO. This event was a “street market” held at Longfusi (in Dongcheng). It spanned two days during Golden Week in 2023 and featured everything! Exotic food, crafts, and performances. It had the highest attendance but was also the most exhausting Rumble event I've ever organized! It was incredible to transform that space into a magical hub of creativity and camaraderie.
Our upcoming event has all the components too: new brands, a fashion show, goodie bags, special deals… and of course, what we cherish the most – collaborations. This time, we have partnered with Catherine de France, who is reopening their newly refreshed hair salon to host a bazaar day that shines a spotlight on everyone!
As mentioned by Hanshing, Saturday's event will feature additional exciting highlights along with the classic Rumble bazaar day. There will be a “Transformation Fashion Statement” runway show, where models combine treasures from local vendors with bold new twists.
Rumble's partner brand, Hanging Sense, will also be launching a clothing swap and upcycling project, encouraging guests to donate gently used garments in support of sustainable fashion. If you're interested in contributing
Participate in the Rumble Renaissance event at Catherine de France this weekend.
