Urban Jungle is a clothing store in uptown Minneapolis filled with vintage, secondhand and collective items. Sunday, Sept. 17, Urban Jungle hosted “Urban Street Market,” a gathering of over 50 clothing resellers. Every thrifter dreams of being on a block filled with used clothing and bargain prices. The market had something for everyone: cute Mary Jane shoes, classic flat-billed hats, beautiful lace dresses, vintage Levi’s, unique jewelry and every type of clothing imaginable.
Graphic t-shirts of all sorts were most common on Sunday because many people love the graphic and streetwear look. Several booths had rare and collectible band and sports graphic tees, perfect for flexing one’s supreme taste.
What was especially impressive were the vendors that had created their clothing, primarily done through screen printing. These vendors used secondhand clothing as a canvas for their creativity. Upcycling and customizing thrift store finds creates something unique. The reduce, reuse and recycle process is best implemented by giving clothes a new life. Revamping items breathes life back into clothing that no one wanted.
This market, and thrifting in general, offered several benefits to individuals and society as a whole. Secondhand clothing is often more affordable than buying new things, excluding collectible or rare vintage items as they are understandably pricier. Urban Jungle enabled shoppers to find high-quality clothing at a fraction of the cost.
Street markets like Urban Jungle’s are also an eco-friendly choice. Choosing secondhand clothes promotes a more sustainable approach to fashion as older items are frequently better made and more durable than their newer, mass-produced counterparts. Buying secondhand reduces the demand for new manufacturing, conserving resources and reducing pollution. It also keeps items out of landfills, extending their lifespan.
Urban Street Market offers various items from different eras and styles, making it easy for people to find unique and one-of-a-kind pieces that set them apart from mass-produced items. When looking around the market, there are many people with varying styles. The prime location to gain fashion inspiration through the clothing bought and the people there. Urban Jungle united a community of people with unique styles but a shared love of special clothing.
The Urban Street Market provides economic benefits, contributes to environmental sustainability and encourages creativity. Urban Street Market was an excellent experience for thrifters. Urban Jungle often puts on events and markets like this one, so be sure to stop by the next one.