Baskets of style: The new wave of fashion flea markets in NZ

August 01, 2023

This excerpt is from an Ensemble Article from 09/10/2022

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of trawling the stalls at a local flea market at the weekend, discovering something delightful that you didn’t know you needed but now desperately want.

That thrill of the (consumerist) chase is influencing a new wave of fashion-focused markets happening across the motu ahead of summer, set up by young creatives and brands as a way to celebrate secondhand shopping and local makers, and foster a sense of community and fun.

In Ōtautahi/Christchurch, a new vintage store Nifty has just opened on Cashel St, taking the best bits of a market day and putting them in one spot.

You won’t miss it: the building is painted a vibrant pink, with “Shop Local” painted proudly in red on the side.

The store is run by Rosie Carroll, who founded The Nifty Markets in 2018 as a regular event and also runs the Instagram account @itsslowmo - her passion is for sustainable fashion, and the circularity that comes from vintage and pre-loved fashion.

“There’s so many things to love about a market and shopping secondhand; it’s a more affordable way of shopping, it’s easy on the planet, it gives people the opportunity to find something that’s unique and actually represents their style - and it’s just something fun to do,” says Carroll, who still plans to hold regular market days alongside the permanent store.

“The idea is that people can bring their vintage and preloved clothing in when they are ready to pass it on to the next person to love - we want this space to make finding that piece of clothing that truly represents your style easy.”

Read the full article here.