The OK Vintage Market provides a monthly opportunity for vintage enthusiasts to gather, with a market in Oklahoma City featuring over 15 independent vendors with collections of clothes, textiles, decor and more.
Co-founders Stephanie Espolt and Britt Phillips established the market in 2022 in the absence of a larger vintage community in Oklahoma City. Each month, they curate the market’s selection of vendors to include a variety of products, ranging from accessories to sculptures.
“I wasn't seeing events where a bunch of clothing vendors were hanging out together and sharing knowledge or growing in friendship,” Phillips said. “We just wanted a place where we could bring everyone together.”
Espolt and Phillips each operate their own vintage shop in Oklahoma City. They often sell at their booths and run the OK Vintage Market simultaneously.
Espolt curates Patted’s selection of clothes, shoes and accessories to fit the '90s and Y2K aesthetic, whereas Saint Paloma Vintage displays Phillips’ collection of vintage workwear. Espolt said that both her and Phillips learned to develop their shop selections based on observing the crowd and their sales.
“It's a lot of people observing what they pick up and what they buy, and after that you kind of catch on,” Espolt said. “Then you start to just learn the customers.”
OK Vintage Market was inspired by Espolt and Phillips’ passion for shopping second-hand and recycled clothing. Espolt said that finding vintage pieces feels natural to her and is worth all the time, energy and exhaustion.
“Being able to find pieces that were going to go to the landfill, and potentially give them a new home is just so worth it,” Espolt said. “To see someone pick it off the rack and be so excited, it makes their day and their wardrobe.”
A yard sale in Phillips’ backyard with Oklahoma City-based vendors prompted the idea of an official market. Given the lack of vintage markets in the area, the pair partnered to form a consistent event for younger people.
OK Vintage Market November promotional graphic.
“We realized that there weren’t a ton of market options here in the city,” Philips said. “Stephanie and I just felt like there was a need here for us to put some extra time and energy into building this community.”
Espolt and Phillips prepared for their first market by connecting with locals through social media and fliers across the city, which Espolt said led to huge success.
“I don't think we slept the night before our first market because it was so nerve wracking, but it was absolutely insane,” Espolt said. “I remember looking out the window and I just saw herds of people like it was an estate sale.”
An ongoing goal for the OK Vintage Market is to further the city’s vintage scene and connect with the community. As Espolt and Phillips seek to expand the market in terms of space, number of vendors, engagement and types of products, the vendor and customer experience is a priority.
“We want to keep the (vintage) community happy and engaged,” Espolt said. “We put a lot of effort in making sure that the space has the aesthetic to produce a good shopping and vending experience.”
The OK Vintage Market occurs monthly and updates are found on their Instagram. This month’s market is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, inside The Lume at 619 W. Main St. in Oklahoma City.
This story was edited by Emma Blakley. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
