CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A giant traveling fashion market has been making its way across the country, and it's coming to Charlotte soon.
On Dec. 3, over 150 vendors for ThriftCon will set up at The Park Expo and Conference Center on East Independence Boulevard. Attendees can dig through racks, bins, and piles for everything from "high end collectibles to absurdly discounted steals," with items spanning several decades.
The ThriftCon team said when the event began in 2018, it was a small neighborhood market in Denver, Colorado -- but the founders saw the potential to bring multiple vendors and businesses together in the name of secondhand and vintage goods. Years later, ThriftCon spans several cities and hosts over 40,000 attendees annually.
Its mission has remained the same: "To encourage a more sustainable way of life by repurposing perfectly useful — often forgotten — pieces of the past."
With growing concerns over the fashion industry's impact on the environment, ThriftCon is intended to encourage more sustainable ways to enjoy fashion, like bringing new life to an older piece of clothing.
Charlotte's event is one-day only, and is considered a "buy/sell/trade" event. This means attendees can bring in one bag per person with items they want to try and sell or trade for other items.
“We aren't just buying/selling/trading clothing either,” ThriftCon co-founder Mario Conte said. “We're investing in the stories, history, education and culture behind the pieces.”
General admission tickets for a 10 a.m. entry are $12 before fees when purchased online, and $20 when purchased at the door. For those itching to get a first look, early admission tickets for a 9 a.m. entry can be purchased online for $30 before fees. Kids under 13 get in for free.