Celebrating 13 years of business, Ecologie brought together small business and vendors across Kennesaw for their Lucky 13 Market.
Kennesaw’s loved vintage and resale store, Ecologie, hosted their annual fall festival on Oct. 22, bringing out hundreds of students, families and fashion lovers to shop together to the Town Center parking lot.
This year’s event, called “The Lucky 13 Market” was named in celebration of 13 years since the store’s opening. Many of the vendors lucky enough to sell at the event were recurring from years prior, but this year a whopping 130 businesses made an appearance.
On Sunday, Crowds filled tents, lined up for lemonade and surrounded the stage to jam out to neighborhood bands. The festivals Ecologie creates are not only fun for locals but also help small businesses from the surrounding areas thrive. This year the event featured delicious food, live music and vendors of all trades. Attendees could find an array of good eats, whether it was grilled cheese from Speak Cheesy, a messy sandwich from Choate BBQ or a refreshing latte from Butterfly Mountain Coffee Co. – and many more delicious snacks from featured food trucks. Alternative and Rock groups, “Yes Dear”, “Atticus Roness”, “Side Talk” and “The Hearsay” each made an on-stage appearance and kept the vibes lively all day.
For over a decade, Ecologie has been organizing seasonal gatherings now and then, but in the past four years, they have committed to doing bi-annual markets each year. Some of the most popular sellers, sparking interest for those attending included: rare t-shirt collectors, 90s and Y2K accessory fanatics and artists making unique, handmade pieces for every aesthetic. Most of the vendors who contributed also have their own brick and mortar stores or websites where they sell year-round. To spotlight a few, Wrinkles ATL, Second String Vtg, Revel Goods Co. and Patched Gal all have recently featured selections.
Ecologie’s permanent location, settled by the corner of George Busbee Pkwy, is a one-of-a-kind haven for supporters of sustainability, affordability, and trends from every decade. They have a mission to make their customers feel comfortable in the clothes they provide while enjoying an atmosphere that welcomes all. Many members of their team are also KSU students or alumni, which bridges a deeper connection with the student population surrounding their store. Even the founder of Ecologie, Nancie Vann, is an alumnus of KSU. They also often collaborate with Owl Swap, a KSU student group with a shared mission of sustainable fashion.
In the past couple of months, the team has also added a whole new section dedicated to home decor in their space. This wing of Ecologie is full of eccentric glassware, tea sets, furniture, wall art, and hand-painted trinkets that would make any home truly homey. Along with a great vibe and selection, all of their items are sold for reasonable prices, which they purposefully do in hopes that customers will choose secondhand over fast fashion when adding to their closets. The store is curated for those who have been thrifting for years but is also perfect for anyone who is beginning their quest into the world of pre-loved pieces.
Ecologie keeps the community on its toes with constant events, and in the coming months, locals can get excited for a Black Friday sale, a potential holiday event, and the yearly 2024 spring market. To stay up to date on everything they do, follow them @ecologievintage on Instagram and Tiktok or visit their website ecologielove.com
