By: Katie Devoe
Imagine a warehouse full of vintage knickknacks, books, clothes and locally handmade crafts. Vendors sell all of these items at a pop-up market, Vintage Charlotte. The market is a maze of antiques and handmade items customers can get lost in for hours. Located in the Fillmore Charlotte at the NC Music Factory, this venue gives the market a genuine nineteenth-century feel since it used to be a textile mill. Red oak floors, elegant chandeliers and the expansive space of the Fillmore make it the right place for a market.
Vintage Charlotte annually hosts a holiday market in November and a summer market in June. There usually is an early bird admission fee of five dollars that allows customers to enter the market an hour before it opens to the public. Early birds have the advantage of avoiding the long line and having the first pick of merchandise.
Three thousand people attended the holiday market in November 2014. Attendees to Vintage Charlotte included antique enthusiasts, families, young couples and friends., The market catered to many, whether they were looking for the right piece to complete their collection or add some vintage flair to their wardrobe.
Vendors set up their tables for the day to greet customers and sell their items. Buying crafts directly from the vendor that created them is much more personal than going to a department store and buying a mass produced item. Customers can talk with the vendors and ask questions about their work. Sometimes knowing that an item is handmade or vintage makes it feel more personal to the buyer. Also, vendors here are sometimes willing to negotiate prices for items, unlike in a department store. The way Vintage Charlotte is set up creates a friendly buying atmosphere.
Many of the handcrafted items are made by Charlotte locals. Shannon Newlin is a painter and illustrator who recently moved to Charlotte, N.C. She creates floral canvas paintings, illustrations that sometimes feature Charlotte and handpainted silk scarves. Prints of her illustrations and paintings are sold at reasonable prices, ranging from $25 to $45. Another vendor, Eclectic Orchid, sells handmade jewelry that is inspired by timeless and modern styles. Macy Bourgeois runs Eclectic Orchid, and she designs and crafts necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and headbands for the company herself. A simple necklace or ring from Eclectic Orchid can add a whimsical vibe and sparkle to an outfit.
Ferris Wheel Vintage and Stash Pad both sell stylish retro clothes at affordable prices. Cute dresses, skirts, high-waisted jeans, oversized sweaters, faux fur cover-ups, and blazers were sold by Ferris Wheel for the winter market. I bought an 80’s black and white angora sweater from Ferris Wheel for $14. What a steal! Stash Pad offers a variety of vintage t-shirts, Charlotte Hornets gear, accessories and jewelry. I think buying vintage t-shirts is better than buying a new t-shirt because they are soft and worn-in. Not everyone has to buy clothing at vintage sales, but many people do enjoy looking at old clothes because it brings back memories.
Vintage Charlotte can let anyone discover an old treasure that’s new to them. From collectables, clothes and decorations to handmade crafts like soap, jewelry and paintings, there is something for everyone. Plan to attend the next Vintage Charlotte market in June 2015 because you will definitely not be disappointed!
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