Boston’s Select Market: Celebrating One Year of Thrift Finds and Fashion Community

Isabella Bernstein

02.11.25

BOSTON, Nov. 16 — In the warmth of the autumn sun, a winding line of well-dressed Bostonians cascaded down and around the busy street corner for as far as the eye could see. The smell of excitement and food-truck waffles filled the air with an anticipatory chatter echoing throughout. A soft thumping of EDM pulsed through in the background of the eager queue. Despite differences in background, occupation and personal style, all these people were waiting for: The thrifting adventure of a lifetime.  

Nov. 16 marked the one year anniversary of Boston’s latest and greatest thrifting market, Select Markets. A massive “birthday” celebration was hosted for the multi-vendor vintage pop-up event that has captivated Bostonian youths and college students this past Saturday afternoon. With 90 vendors toting thousands of items setting up shop along the track of the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, shoppers got an extra special opportunity to shop from and engage with Boston’s budding fashion scene. 

Many shoppers heard about the market through social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok. With 23,000 followers on Instagram and collaborations with other Boston creatives, Select Markets has become a hyper-local celebrity in and of itself. 

Shoppers with all types of personal style flooded the market looking for the next great addition to their closet. Jeans of all cuts and washes are around every corner, retro grandpa-esque sweaters hang by the hundreds and piles of graphic t-shirts feel infinite. A coveted leather jacket was the apple of many shoppers’ eyes.

Many shoppers heard about the market through social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok. With 23,000 followers on Instagram and collaborations with other Boston creatives, Select Markets has become a hyper-local celebrity in and of itself. 

The variety at Select Markets, especially at the large anniversary event, is what interested a lot of shoppers. “A lot of the thrifting places I go to… it's very towards one style with limited vendors,” explains Emma Light, a 23-year-old Bostonian. She, like many others patiently waiting in line, came to the anniversary market to peruse the various styles of clothing the numerous vendors have to offer. “You can tell just by the crowd here and the diverse styles that this is going to be a good mix of things. Meanwhile, most places I go, it's very set to one way, it's very trendy.” 

“It’s just people’s collections; its a very personal take on all of it,” explained Gwen Gauger, a Northeastern student looking for some streetwear. “It's basically just curated clothing for each person.”

The anniversary market is not only an exciting chance for individuals looking to expand their wardrobe – it is a beneficial opportunity to the vendors as well. Some first time vendors, like Danae Urban of Oh Holy Grunge and Alexia Garrison of Lex’s Vintage, traveled from out of state for the opportunity to involve their brand in the community Select Markets has built. Other seasoned vendors, such as Luke Gerado of LuluFlipEdit, were excited for the continued growth the markets provide to his brand. 

“I get followers; I get to meet new people; I get to see different faces,” Gerado said. “[Select Markets] helps build that kind of brand recognition where people are like ‘Oh, I know him. I’ve seen him from here and there,’ [or] ‘Oh, he's good people. He has good stuff. He has good prices.’” 

Roberto Cordero, a Northeastern business student and one of Select Markets’ organizers, said the goal of the market has expanded from simply being a clothing sale to encompass so much more. The anniversary market included not only vintage clothing vendors, but many other booths for customers to get their Henna done, tooth gems installed and caricatures drawn. Boston-based DJs mixed tracks live in the middle of the 80,000 square foot venue. Local food trucks such as Naughty Waffly, Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese and Smoke Boston catered snacks to the hungry shoppers. 

“The overarching mission is to build a community where anyone could come together, even if you’re not into fashion,” Cordero said. “I feel like it's transitioned from a fashion event to more of a community one.”

The anniversary event illustrates the rapid growth that Select Market has undergone over the past year. Their first event hosted 15 vendors and around 200 shoppers in a small venue in Boston’s South End. At their one year anniversary, they served over 5,000 attendees.

The anniversary market is just the beginning, according to Cordero. Over the coming years, he hopes to see the market extend to other cities and states, as well as grow their social media presence and partner with more local creators and brands. Cordero is excited about the market’s expansion into the nightlife scene, as they hosted their first “after hours” party later that Saturday night.

“The ethos and underlying bedrock is the same,” said Cordero, “but it's only getting bigger and more organized, and in my opinion, better.”