On Saturday April 19, The California Thrift Fest made its long-awaited return to the Alameda County Fairgrounds for a day of shopping, selling, and dining. Hundreds of vendors and small businesses flocked to the fairgrounds to sell hand picked selections of thrifted clothes, electronics, art, jewelry, and more.
“It was awesome. There were a lot of different vendors from all around California. and there was also a lot of stuff that wasn’t clothes. There were also old video games, camera gear, and a bunch of jewelry and collectibles,” said Diego Sapriza (‘26).
For many vendors, Thrift Fest offered an opportunity to expand their business through sustainable shopping and community involvement.
“I had a little boutique in Livermore for seven years, closed it back in 2019, and then my daughters and I got into tie-dye. I had a lot of inventory leftover by my boutique… so [at Thrift Fest] I get rid of a lot of items. It is also a great opportunity to meet people that have never been here before,” said vendor Kirsty Dsdiap.
As for students, many enjoyed the wide selection of clothes at the event, complimenting the low prices and unique finds.
“There were a bunch of vendors that had expensive items, like $150 for a pair of pants, but most places had really cheap items, like shirts for $10. I got a pair of empire pants for $30 and they’re usually $80,” said Sapriza.
Renewable Shopping
With almost 92 million tons of textile waste being produced every year, events like Thrift Fest offer a renewable way to shop. These trends are becoming more and more popular as the Pleasanton community members enjoyed sustainable and unique finds.
“I felt part of my community–I got to know a lot of people, and enjoyed being in a room full of such friendly people. With thrifting, it feels like there’s more of a story to the clothes I’m buying. It just feels better knowing that I’m not contributing to overconsumption,” said Taisiya Shulakova (‘26).
