Are flea markets still cool?

Flea markets may seem old-fashioned, however nowadays it’s an ideal place to find cool and eco-friendly objects and clothes. Here are some reasons why you should make flea market shopping your new favorite activity.

A place of history

The origin of the term ‘Flea market’ is disputed. One explanation is that the term derives from the French term ‘marché aux puces’. ‘Puces’ meaning ‘fleas’. The name suggests that the items sold on the markets were old, already worn and sometimes plagued by… well yes, fleas. Convinced yet? While the term ‘flea market’ is fairly new (19th century), the concept has existed for millennias.

Indeed, items can be old and could carry a (hi)story from all over the world. In flea markets all kinds of things are gathered: some useful, others decorative. The challenge is to find the treasures among the rest. It requires some patience and practice and that’s exactly what’s so nice about it. Stroll around, soak up the atmosphere and keep your eyes open for that one special object. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And we are not necessarily talking about money here.

An item that’s for sale on a flea market has lived many lives. It carries the history of his former owners: a reparation, a small note accompanied with a signature in a book or a bookmark left between two pages. So, if you like objects with a history and enjoy a small challenge this type of shopping is for you!

A place of vintage (or was it old-fashioned?) objects

Vintage shops pop up everywhere. What was considered as ‘old-fashioned’ by our parents is now trendy. Flea markets are the ideal place to find vintage items. The range of products are more varied in markets than in specialized shops. In shops there’s often one person with an own style, deciding what to buy and to resell. At a flea market you decide what’s valuable and interesting to you.

If you’re looking for those 70’s sunglasses or old records for your new record player, go get your gems on a flea market. You’ll find unique products that aren’t mass produced.

A way to be eco-friendly

Last but probably most important, flea markets are great for the environment. Everyday people buy newly fabricated items. The same items that someone else threw away yesterday. And so the cycle of consuming and polluting continues. Buying second hand, extends the life duration of an object and prevents the manufacturing of a new one. To make new items, you use raw products and energy and you produce waste. No reason to, since you can find quality and originality at a flea market.

If the other reasons didn’t convince you to go to flea markets yet, we hope this last one did. The environmental cause is one of the most important ones that drives the Curious Team.
You can find more info on advantages of second hand shopping here.

Flea markets, as you understood, is a real asset for second-hand items. Go to our store to buy second hand items that come directly from flea markets!