What Made Thriftcon So Special
Thriftcon came and went, leaving me with many unforgettable memories. When I made my instagram account back in 2019, I came across their IG and excitedly followed them. I noticed that they periodically hosted pop-up-like events, alternating in big cities such as: Atlanta, Denver and Miami. This year, and for the first time, I attended Thriftcon in Atlanta!
Ya'll, this event was literally a thrifters dream! For starters, Thriftcon is one of the biggest vintage pop-ups in the nation! Initially, I planned on vending with a thrift friend, but we missed the window for the vendor application as it closed and sold out within less than 24 hours! Although bummed at first, we still wanted to visit so we purchased tickets as attendees this year (hoping to flag down the vendor application in advance next year). The tickets for Thriftcon were super cheap, so we only had to budget for lodging, flight fees and transportation. Fortunately, my childhood bestie lives in ATL. I told her I’d be in town briefly and she warmly insisted we stay with her. What a blessing of a bestie! In addition to me seeing her for the first time in 3 years, she truly made the trip seamless.
We arrived in ATL Saturday night and rested up for Thriftcon Sunday! Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a massive line which we anticipated! The line extended beyond the building, as you may have seen in my recent IG reel. Standing in line made me feel extremely anxious for what was to come but it moved rather quickly. When we entered the building they checked our tickets, stamped us and we were free to explore! We immediately met some ladies who recognized us from IG. We shared our excitement for what was to come and visited some vintage entrepreneurs marked high on our list such as: Vintage Blvd, KollectionsbyNatalie and Blackpineboutique to name a few.
Dynamic group of vintage fashion entrepreneurs.
From the moment we entered the Atlanta Expo Center, I felt overwhelmed knowing that i’d want to splurge on all the vintage goodies! I purposely brought one medium sized reusable bag so i’d be mindful of my consumption. While I was selective about what I purchased, there were several pieces that I didn’t purchase but definitely caught my attention such as Coogi sweaters, an abundance of street wear, vintage designer bags, upcycled denim and the $5 t-shirt piles. I honestly wanted to buy everything but i’m proud of myself for my efforts to consciously consume and fit most of the items I purchased in my reusable bag.
Overall, Thriftcon was such a pleasant atmosphere. It was amazing to see people from far and wide come together with a similar interest— sustainable fashion. While admiring various pieces on racks for sale, I was so intrigued by everyone’s unique outfits! From carpenter jeans, to graphic tees, platform loafers to Jordan ones, I was reminded of how creative us thrifters can be in a world full of revolving trends. I frequently heard people nearby spreading compliments like confetti. Thriftcon ATL was truly a happy place that i’d revisit at the drop of a hat and hope you would too!
