Thrift Street brings fashion, music, and creativity to Columbia
When attending a Thrift Street event, market goers are greeted with racks of colorful clothing and iconic music. Upon entry, songs from OutKast and Tyler The Creator can be heard as a cornucopia of clothing presents itself.
Amir Diba created Thrift Street, a traveling vintage market, when he was 17. The first market was held in Clover, South Carolina. The second took place in Rock Hill. And its latest installment took place at the Columbia Museum of Art on Saturday, Feb. 1.
It included local and non-local vendors as well as a bigger audience and piles of affordable clothing. Thrift Street videographer Aaron Jacobs described it as the biggest event in the brand’s history.
“I feel like every Thrift Street gets bigger and bigger,” Jacobs said. “At the first one it was mainly just Amir [Diba]’s friends being vendors. And obviously now we have all these different vendors.”
Ferby Baj and Andrew Browning, Charlotte natives, are regular vendors at Thrift Street, having attended three events. Both Baj and Browning appreciate the market allowing them to gain exposure with an audience outside of their hometown.
“Being in a new setting, that’s the biggest thing,” Baj said. “We’re able to reach people that we aren’t normally used to in our regular setting, especially when it’s in person with the interaction.”
Browning said a notable difference between Thrift Street and other vintage markets is the effort of fostering a sense of community.
“Thrift Street is definitely different because of the community,” Browning said. “I think the owner Amir [Diba] does a great job of bringing community together and he’s very personal with the vendors and customers as well.”
The market is also a reflection of the people Diba holds dear. He said he takes much pride in collaborating with his friends to bring to life a creative vision. Diba credits his romantic partner Caprielle Terry as a key person to the market.
“She helps run the entire thing when I’m running away every three seconds,” Diba said. “Every time we have a table or if we’re selling merch or whatever she’s there doing it.”
Although Diba strives to create a sense of community around Thrift Street, he also uses it as a canvas on which he paints his own creativity. Each event is accompanied by a playlist curated by Diba. The creative processes of producing videography and advertising material for each event is particularly fun for him.
“I do Thrift Street 75 percent because I want to hear my music and the other 25 percent is so I can make videos for Thrift Street,” he said. “I don’t know anything about vintage clothes, not a single thing. I just give a fuck about videos, music, artwork, and all the creative shit.”
The promotional videos are themed differently for each event. Diba’s goal is to create an entirely new world with each event. Bryce Ellington, a Thrift Street videographer, enjoys being a part of the market because of the unity amongst them while pursuing a singular creative vision.
“All of us are creative and build off each other,” Ellington said. “There isn’t a hierarchy. There isn’t one person over the other. All of us come together and put our heads together to make something beautiful.”
Another market videographer, Will Stansberry, finds observing the outfits of market goers to be one of the most fun parts of helping with Thrift Street. Stansberry said that because of his role, he doesn’t have time to shop for himself and thus enjoys seeing the outfits of people attending the market.
“I haven’t had the time to shop around yet,” Stansberry said. “People have been popping out in outfits and that’s what I love. I saw someone wear a t-shirt that said “I got that dog in me.” I love that.”
USC student Eric Center attended a Thrift Street event for the first time. Center said he was impressed with the variety of clothing available and ambience of the event.
“There’s a lot of stuff that looks very interesting for me to buy,” Center said. “I have no idea what I’m gonna buy. The vibe is great.”
Micheal Jacobs III is a staff writer for The Palmetto. He thinks Jordan versus Lebron is the most overrated debate ever. His main focuses are music, basketball and combat sports. If you have a comment or tip for Micheal, feel free to contact him on social media or through email.
Reach Micheal at micheal@thepalmetto.org.