By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
What started as a local college girl’s goal to clear out her closet of clothes she didn’t wear as much has turned into a community celebration of all things thrifted and vintage.
Meara Holden, born and raised in Bowling Green and a fashion merchandising senior at Bowling Green State University, organized and orchestrated the second annual BG Thrift Fest on Saturday at the Wood County Fairgrounds.
Her success was evident from the long lines of people waiting to get in when the doors opened at noon to the happy faces of the visitors with armloads of prized purchases and the vendors who sold the goods.
The event featured hand-selected vintage resale vendors with curated collections, local community members who have clothing collections looking for new homes and several locals selling handcrafted items, she explained.
Holden started the BG Thrift Fest when marketing, selling and delivering items individually–mostly to other college students–became too time consuming. She knew many of her friends who were selling vintage and unused clothes were in the same boat.
BG Thrift Fest was born in 2023 when she was looking for “a more efficient way to sell my clothes,” Holden said. The idea was also part of her mission to advance the fight against apparel and textile waste.
According to an EPA report, Americans generate 16 million tons of textile waste a year or over six percent of total municipal waste. Approximately 700,000 tons of used clothing is exported overseas; 2.5 million tons are recycled, 3 million tons are incinerated and 10 million tons are sent to landfill
The 2023 event, held in downtown Bowling Green, resulted in hundreds of secondhand garments from 25 vendors finding new homes, Holden said.
The second annual event found a new home in the Champion Barn at the fairgrounds, increasing the number of vendors to 29, and the embellishment of four onsite food trucks: Big Daddy’s Sausage House and More, Popp’n Up Kettlecorn, Carnitas Michoacan, and Manny’s Munchies.
Attendees like BGSU sophomores Samara McKee and Emma Kneblewicz were among the hundreds of people scouring through the racks and racks of clothes at the thrift fest.
Kneblewicz, a human development and family studies major, saw the advertisement on social media and decided to attend. “I love to thrift. I’m always looking for unique items that not everyone will have,” she said. She was thrilled to find Northface pants at a price that was affordable.
McKee, who is majoring in resort and attraction management, regularly enjoys thrifting. She found a cool sweatshirt at a Toledo vintage market last weekend and was on the hunt for sweaters. “With the weather turning cooler, I’m hoping to find some sweaters to get me through the season,” she said.
Amanda Leverenz was with her 11-year-old daughter, looking for clothing to align with a Boho-vibe. She held up a pair of chic, patterned, red leather-ish pants, and wondered if they would fit her “mom body.”
In addition to the visitors happy with the offerings, many of the vendors were pleased with the crowds and the sales.
Holden’s table included clothing from her closet and other items that she sews from repurposed materials, such as boxer shorts made out of old shirts from her father, Brett Holden.
She learned to sew through 4-H and came back to sewing. After starting at BGSU as a pre-med student, she found fashion merchandising and product development was more her passion than medicine. Now, she uses a sewing machine and serger to make her finished high-quality articles.
Overheard during the thrift fest, a woman bought a pair of Holden’s boxer shorts, partly because she liked the trendy style, but mainly because “They reminded me of my father,” she said.
The BG Thrift Fest was a first-time show for BGSU graphic design major Blake Rupp to sell items from his side business, 1of1Saturn. His wares–clothing art and collectibles–were not recycled or vintage, but they were fun and clever.
Rupp grew up on a farm in Archbold and is an advocate for a greener Earth. He said his ideas and designs are integrated from his life experiences. He was pleased with the sales and the connections he made during the show.
Bowling Green resident Morgan Womack liked the excitement that ran throughout the building as soon as the doors opened. Selling polymer clay jewelry has become her artistic outlet for the young mom and artist.
She signed up to be a vendor this year after a successful time at the inaugural event. “I love the younger clientele,” she said, which varies from some of the other shows where she sells her jewelry. This year’s show was shaping up to be just as good, she said.
At the end of the day, another vendor, Molly’s Make’s reported on Instagram: “What a great day at @bgthriftfest! I had so much fun! I was wiped clean of most of my inventory. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported.”
Holden was happy the second year was bigger and better than year one.
All of the vendor spaces were filled and a waiting list was established within a week of the application being available, she said. Based on social media responses in the weeks leading up to the fest, Holden also sensed there would be a good turnout.
“I knew it could be bigger, but it means so much to me to have such a great turnout,” she said. Though she graduates in May, she is already thinking ahead to 2025.
“Bowling Green is my home; this is something I hope to continue to provide a sustainable shopping experience for the local community, that has a great energy and is filled with like-minded people fighting against fast fashion and textile waste.”
