By Bianca Machain, March 25, 2025
With the modern resurgence of thrifting, ThriftCon at the Fairplex in Pomona was home to hundreds of vintage vendors and many fashion-forward attendees March 15.
Encouraging reusing, reducing and recycling of goods, ThriftCon is the No. 1 vintage clothing and collectible convention in the world, receiving 60,000 guests, over 1,000 vendors and spanning 10 cities every year. The host cities change annually, and this year’s roadmap includes Los Angeles, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando.
ThriftCon also provides an opportunity for sellers who are not official vendors to sell in an area called The Pit.
In the Pit, vendors are encouraged to sell their stock but have no formal booth. Constricted to one zone, many vendors stand around and attempt to sell their stock. Having an allotted space of 8 feet by 10 feet, many vendors take up the floor space near the stage to lay out their items. This small action is meant to help jump-start their vending careers, and for sellers just starting out, it is a big deal.
Some vendors, however, were seasoned veterans of selling secondhand. Zoe Guillory began vending 25 years ago and just celebrated 15 years of having a storefront. She noted that once she left corporate America, she realized she was passionate about vintage, especially 1950s-1970s clothing. Guillory said when she entered the vintage space, she did not see people of color in the industry.
“We do deserve to sit at that table,” Guillory said, who worked to be the change in the industry. “We can do anything we put our mind and heart to.”
Guillory also said her love for vintage is a homage to her grandmother and recalled how she used to play in her grandmother’s clothes. Not only do these clothes carry memories, but the people who sell them do, too. Guillory said eco-friendly fashion and a circular economy is important.
“Why don’t we save the world?” Guillory said.
ThriftCon is an ode to sustainable fashion, with vendors traveling from everywhere just to sell their items. Connor Robles, a jewelry vendor at the event, traveled from Denver. His brand Oaks repurposes vintage silverware into unique jewelry pieces. The silverware are usually pieces from the 1960s, therefore are sterling silver or stainless steel.
“I was tired of my classes; nine to five classes will kill you,” Robles said about joining the industry. “I got a vision to just do it.”
Robles also said he had the opportunity to handmake jewelry for whole families out of deceased members’ silverware collections. He said moments like that are the highlight of his work. Robles was just one of the many upcyclers present at the convention.
Tucked in the middle aisle of all the hustle and bustle within ThriftCon was the Creator’s Corner, with a specific focus on upcycled designs. Upcycling items are characterized by the creation of something new from something previously worn or created. Featured in this alley are popular creators such as Iamkoko.la, Nostalgic Threadz, and Justin Mensinger.
Magali Vasquez, owner of Magali Makes, upcycles clothing items and sells them on her website. Vaquez created her own outfit for her attendance at ThriftCon, an upcycled yellow dress and headband to match.
Vasquez began upcycling because she got tired of her same wardrobe, even though as she said, she had too many clothes. From there, she realized she could sell these upcycled items, noting that seeing other people upcycle their clothes inspired her own journey. More about her upcycled pieces can be found via her Instagram
Outside of the Creator’s Corner booths were adorned racks of clothing, including $5 bins, scarves, purses and a variety of jewelry. Brands like Ed Hardy, Coach, Fossil and Victoria’s Secret were everywhere. ThriftCon itself puts out a $10 pay-by-the-pound bin grab, where attendees scour bins for clothing — many departed with a wagonload of items.
Textile waste makes up approximately 7% of total waste in global landfills. The fashion industry makes up a significant portion of global waste and carbon emissions. Fast fashion brands have single-handedly changed the fashion industry, but it does not seem for the better. Fast fashion is characterized by low-quality, mass-produced clothing adhering to the current trends. When so many items are produced at a near-constant pace, the quality of the items are diminished.
Attendee and second-hand vendor Irene Kirkland said, “In my mind, I always think about if something is going to last.”
Growing up, Kirkland said her family had a focus on the quality of items. Kirkland is passionate about thrifting and said she just wants to share that love with the world. Her brand, idsragsntags, is her way of sharing her passion for fashion with others.
ThriftCon Los Angeles brought together second-hand fashion lovers from all across the country to bask in the glory of vintage. With the rise of fast-fashion, events like ThriftCon have become increasingly important to sustainable fashion practices.
Feature image courtesy of Bia Machain
