Accessible Fashion: Flea Market Find in Vendor City

Every day, markets across the country open their stands to interested buyers. Buyers lurk while sellers eagerly wait for an interested party to pick up one of their items. In an instant the clothes head from one home, shop or garage into the bag of a new owner. 

However, before this purchase can occur, local vendors spend large amounts of time and resources on creating sellable products. The thread is spun. The clothes are dyed. The jeans are washed and handled. For a large demographic, this sustainable process is preferred to factories and strong chemicals. 

There’s a charm to knowing these clothes are handled with care and precision — there is a magical pull to buy from local vendors. In this way, the consumer is committed to further the accessibility of fashion by avoiding chain stores.

The truth is not everyone can afford to buy from expensive clothing stores. Sure, there’s a demand and interest for luxury fashion. However there are also a substantial number of buyers who desire something different. Within these circles of consumers, there’s one common theme — people love to feel connected to their clothing.

Clothing — whether it be a favorite sweater or a going-out dress — is highly personal. The buying process involves finding the right size, entering a fitting room and examining the article of clothing thoroughly. As the saying goes, if the shoe fits, wear it. However, for a lot of consumers this isn’t  a possibility. Many big box stores have lagged behind when fulfilling the need for a holistic experience. Consumer behavior when shopping has changed, according to the BBC.

This shifts why secondhand markets and local vendors are important. When a business opens the door for consumers of all social and economic backgrounds, fashion becomes more attainable. 

City markets tailored to small clothing vendors are becoming increasingly popular because they serve as welcoming, community gathering places. The neighborhood market doesn’t discriminate. No matter what different sellers are offering, there’s almost always something for everyone. 

The traditional structure of a market has changed as consumers have become less extravagant buyers, and more prone to online shopping, according to Forbes. Consumers continue to support local businesses, however. 

The world was impacted by the pandemic and consumers changed the way in which they shop. There is a perceived convenience of limiting social interactions due to  health concerns, according to the National Library of Medicine. As consumer patterns changes, big box stores are struggling to unite people.

Shops, boutiques and store fronts have had to adapt to internet culture. Sadly, many stores that existed to provide clothes to an under appreciated demographic have been impacted by an economy going through change, according to CNN. 

But, despites its challenges, internet culture has also provided relief for several businesses struggling to draw people in. For the majority of young artists wanting to start a brand, the necessary resources — money, influence and customers — are not readily available. The internet has become a place for many fashionistas to come together, debate outfits and exchange clothes, allowing the consumer to tread on both sides of the fashion market.  

Online forums have only furthered the interest creating a culture where fashion is readily available.

Local vendors provide the opportunity for all consumers to enjoy fashion. A big box company analyzes data and looks at monthly growth reports before finally considering the consumers. Local vendors are able to consider the shopper for who they actually are and not what they’re statistically supposed to be.

Fashion that can be enjoyed by all people is fashion worth noting. From the actual weaving of the clothes to the final destination, non-traditional modes of selling clothes are important not only to preserving unique pieces and small businesses, but also to reaching every kind of customer.