For those looking for a bargain on clothing, thrifting has become one of the most accessible and affordable means to do so. There are many different ways to thrift, from online resellers to a local Goodwill, but there is only one that brings it directly to Rowan students: campus flea markets.

On Nov. 20, the Beauty In Distress (BID) organization partnered with Joshua Akinsanya to host the Fourth Annual Do-You-Thrift-A-Lot flea market. The event lasted from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Chamberlain Student Center, with clothing racks filled to the brim with thrifted pieces in the Eynon Ballroom from over 30 vendors. 

The flea market offered a wide variety of second-hand clothing. From corduroy pants to Ralph Lauren polos and vintage T-shirts, the market had clothing for all styles. Tables were filled with clothing at under $5 apiece, and some vendors had discounts for buying multiple pieces, all providing affordable prices to students.  

Joshua Akinsaya, a graduate student pursuing a master’s in business administration, carries his undergraduate legacy through organizing the Do-You-Thrift-A-Lot event.

“When I was in undergrad, I would always thrift myself, and I loved fashion. I wanted to find a way to spread that love with everyone else, so me and a couple friends decided to just do it. I was a part of BID, and we made a small event in the [Student Center] pit about two years ago, it was a small pop-up with a couple vendors. It blew out the water, so we decided to keep doing it,” said Akinsaya.

The president of BID, James Lee, stresses the importance of everybody who helped organize and host the event.

“I definitely want to congratulate Josh Aki for bringing us back, especially as a master’s student. I know graduate school can be hard, so with him going through it and continuing Thrift-A-Lot is definitely a blessing in itself. I also want to congratulate the people, and any other outside people-led assistance. Thank you to the vendors who are bringing a lot to this,” said Lee.

It wasn’t just clothing that was sold at the event. Bella Bruno, a vendor at the event for Staircase Vintage, displayed accessories, CDs, and lighters adorned with vintage magazine photos in her booth. The Pennsylvania-based vendor emphasizes the importance of these events for her business, as well as the community that these events bring. 

“I love that I can be next to my two friends, and meeting all the customers has been a lot of fun. I think it’s important for networking, you meet a lot of people. It helps grow your social media and your following, but also getting out there and reaching different parts of the East Coast,” said Bruno. 

Jessica Rebristy, another Pennsylvania-based vendor and owner of Torn & Ripped Vintage, also commented on the importance of the community that these events foster.

“[My favorite part of the event] has probably been meeting so many gorgeous girls and talking to them. I’ve met so many girls today that I now follow on Instagram and have had great conversations [with]. Also selling my cute clothes to some baddies, that’s my favorite part. Putting a smile on people’s faces when they find cute stuff. Whenever I go thrifting, and I find something really cute that’s for me, it makes me so happy,” said Rebristy.

Overall, the Fourth Annual Do-You-Thrift-A-Lot flea market provided students both with clothing and with community. As the last thrifting opportunity on campus for the Fall 2025 semester, the event organizers strove to ensure that these markets went out with a bang.