Once a month in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the parking lot of Wiseman’s Brewery transforms into something unexpected. Instead of food trucks or festival booths, the asphalt fills with racks, bins, and tables filled with old, used clothing. But make no mistake, this isn’t a donation drive or a giveaway. It’s a gathering of collectors, curators, resellers, and treasure hunters who come together to celebrate the art and culture of vintage fashion, this is the VNTG SHOW.
On any given visit, you’ll find vendors showcasing pieces that feel like they were pulled straight from a time capsule. One seller displayed photos of hats worn in the iconic film Boyz N The Hood. The price tag wasn’t astronomical, but the value? Practically priceless. Items like that rarely surface, and when they do, they don’t linger long.
For some newcomers, an event like this may seem bewildering, an array of worn garments and scuffed accessories that feel more like clutter than opportunity. But as the saying goes, one person’s trash truly is another person’s treasure. And for many of the people who show up month after month, the hunt is part of a lifelong passion.
Take Lawrence, better known online as @itsjustlarry____, an artist and vintage reseller who drives in from Charlotte. “My mom got me into thrifting,” he says. “As a kid, we’d stay in stores all day.” For him and many others, thrifting isn’t just a business, it’s a tradition, a creative outlet, and a link to the past.
For some vendors, pop-ups like this are more than a preference, they’re a necessity. “It’s a lot of money to own a storefront,” one seller explains. “For artists like me, renting office space is just too expensive. And honestly, some places don’t even want us there because they think we’ll bring a certain vibe to their property.” Out here in the open, however, they’re free to create, sell, and connect.
In a world where online reselling has exploded and social media is the engine of modern marketing, events like the VNTG SHOW have become essential. They offer a space for artists, resellers, and small brands to showcase their identity, one piece at a time.
Still, not everyone understands it. On the drive home, my wife wondered aloud why anyone would spend serious money on used items. The answer is simple: for those who get it, it’s never just used clothing. It’s nostalgia. It’s history. It’s the thrill of owning something rare, unique, and unforgettable, a piece of the past that may never surface again.