On September 20th, 2025, NAAAP Boston hosted their very own “Made in Boston Festival,” located in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. This event shone a spotlight on local small businesses who don’t receive much recognition, giving them a big chance to showcase their products. The color, creativity, and culture made the festival more than just a marketplace; it was a celebration of community and empowerment. From delicious foods and drinks to beautiful jewelry, creative artwork, books, and more, this celebration provided a wide array of things for the public to enjoy.
Vendor Nancy Daniel introduced her chai company that she created because herself and her coworkers “hate the ones you get in the market here, so we wanted to bring an authentic product to the market.” She continued, “This is an Asian-based business, so it’s nice to be a part of this group of people that support each other with their own businesses and products.”
Chef Daniel’s company is called Madhrasi, with a focus on creating chai concentrates “made with fresh ginger and spices and filled with chai.” She started this business two years ago, but has been a part of the food industry for ten years.
Disappointed with the lack of good products, Daniel took action and decided to make her own brand. “Our masala chai, our first original product here that we launched, is one of our best. Our other flavors are also catching up, though, such as our special flavors, like our rose chai, saffron chai, and more,” Daniel expressed.
Moving from drinks to food, Sun Bear Street Food is one of the food vendors that specializes in making hot dogs with unique toppings. The idea for Sun Bear came about a few months before COVID hit. The owner, Gary Yin, provided background on the history of his business.
“A few days after Christmas 2020, I received a phone call from my aunt, who told me my mother, who was living in Cambodia, had fallen and potentially had a stroke. Two days later, I was on an airplane with my older brother flying to Cambodia to rescue and take care of my mom,” he explained.
That was his first time in Cambodia. Yin didn’t know a single person there and was not capable of speaking the language. He only had family, whom he’d never even met. “Arriving in Cambodia and being there for nearly six weeks was a life-changing experience. There was this feeling of cultural familiarity. Sounds, smells, and tastes that felt comforting,” Yin began. “But at the same time, I realized I was deeply American. I was a person who walked both worlds, and for one reason or another wasn’t completely one or the other.”
Being there sparked something inside of him. Yin wanted to pursue “the understanding of this cultural conflict, this feeling of two worlds ebbing and flowing with and against one another. The idea of what it means to be part of a diaspora born from incredible trauma and shock.”
With Sun Bear, Yin hopes to tell his story and express his “painful confusion that echoes in my generation of Cambodian Americans born to parents who survived genocide and started life over again.” He wants to tell his story and give people an unforgettable experience through food.
Custom jewelry maker Katie Lee, artist Megan Tran, and author Tracy Guan are other vendors who came to showcase their hard work to the people of Boston.
“I’m promoting my business here. I do pop-ups only, so this was a great opportunity for the Asian community to get together and present our businesses and support each other,” Lee stated. “This is custom-fit jewelry every time, and we weld it on for our customers.”
Lee began her business two and a half years ago, after realizing that permanent jewelry services were uncommon in the area, believing it would be a “good trend to bring to Boston.”
Tran then expressed her passion for her artwork and the ways it connects to her identity was a key to her business. “I’m a Bostonian, born and raised in Boston. I’m an upcoming artist, and personally, I want to feel valued.”
This “Made in Boston Festival” reminded everyone of the creativity and talent existing within their own city. Thanks to every vendor, every business brought something unique to the table and shared their stories through their work, all while connecting with others.
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