Houston Thrift Store Craze Reaches New Heights With Mega ThriftCon Shopping Bonanza

TThousands of attendees browsed belt-sized plaid microskirts and groovy jumpsuits galore at ThriftCon Houston at NRG Stadium, a venue that usually hosts N. With musical stylings from a live mariachi band and more than 100 vintage and resale vendors, the thrift market created a community atmosphere.

The traveling thrift convention was founded in 2019 by co-founders and entrepreneurs Mars Conte, David Bywater, and Ken Meade in Denver, Colorado. The clothing collaboration has since expanded to Atlanta, Portland, Oregon, and of course, Houston.

Houston’s thrift shoppers flocked to find bargains and unique pieces. Rows of second-hand vendors dotted the center of the industrial space. Carts filled to the brim with clothing, sold by the pound, lined the walls.

The clothes and shoppers spanned the decades. Tweens and those who may have worn bell-bottoms in their youth browsed the aisles side by side in search of unique items. While there were many decades to choose from, the Y2K aesthetic was the most abundant. Millennials can rejoice (or cringe) at the fact that their childhood outfits are making the biggest comeback yet.

Save money for a good cause

In addition to selling everything from high-end sneakers to antique tables, ThriftCon organizers held a clothing drive for advantage Fort Bend Women’s Center. Participants simply dropped off their bags of second-hand clothing before purchasing new items to complete their wardrobes.

More than 12,000 people attended ThriftCon Houston over two days. ThriftCon Vendor Manager Brian Frederick reveals that the organization plans to return to Houston next year after such a successful event.

“We always look for places where there’s already a strong vintage scene, and everyone knows Houston has that,” Frederick says. “The location, the people, the vibe, it’s always a perfect fit for what we’re trying to do.”

To learn more about ThriftCon and when it’s coming back to Houston, click here. In the meantime, there are plenty of thrift stores in Houston with fabulous finds to fill your closets.