Thrift Street: A traveling, local creative outlet

Thrift Street started as a vintage market in Clover, South Carolina, and has grown into a traveling creative experience. 

There have now been Thrift Street events in Clover, Columbia and Rock Hill.

The vintage market was created by then-17 year-old Amir Diba in 2022. Its original purpose was to give Clover locals an event to look forward to and a place to shop. 

It eventually became a creative representation of Diba as well as an outlet for other creators.

“It started as a vintage market, and then I started incorporating all the things I’m into,” Diba said. “From the way I advertise it, the music that’s playing, the space and vendors I choose – that’s all my brain.”

Thrift Street’s marketing is intended to be one of its most notable components. Diba and his team conduct both photo and video shoots to capture and promote the aesthetic for the next event. 

One show was a car show in Rock Hill. Another market was held on Greene Street in Columbia.

Diba said this method of advertising was designed to be similar to a musical album rollout, meaning he wants to establish and promote an artistic vision of the event. 

“I try to make this world out of every single event like there’s a different aesthetic with it,” Diba said. “It’s like an album. I mean, actually it’s like an album.”

The creation of aesthetics for events is a particularly enjoyable part of the process for Thrift Street model and videographer Aaron Jacobs.

“I love seeing it all come together,” Jacobs said. “Picking outfits, creating an energy or idea through clothing and crafting a video, that gives every event a unique feel so Thrift Street isn’t just another market. And I love that.”

Jacobs enjoys the variety of event concepts Thrift Street has shown, as it gives him the opportunity to do videography in different settings and situations.

“For the car show and then the art you wouldn’t approach it the same way because it is a different (medium),” Jacobs said. “Honestly, I always find that interesting because you have to approach things differently. But the goal is the same, to get the most beautiful shot possible.”

The musical component of the market extends beyond being an aesthetic accompaniment to events. 

Several events have featured vendors selling vinyl records and live musical performances as event closers. This contributes to the artistic diversity of the events while giving local musicians an opportunity to gain more exposure. 

In October, Thrift Street hosted “THE BRIOCHE GALLERY,” an art gallery in Rock Hill, meant to display various forms of creativity. The gallery was hosted at the same time as a Thrift Street market event. The gallery featured vendors selling clothing, crochet art, paintings and several other crafts.

“It was created to be an outlet for all who truly care about their art,” Thrift Street said in a statement. “From kids who draw on their shoes to photographers who take pictures of flowers, we want them all.”