If you’re searching for fur hats, leather jackets or cashmere knit sweaters, Select has it all, with vintage clothing pop-up events across Boston. Founded in 2023 by Northeastern students Joshua Maizes and Joaquin Crosby-Lizarde, Select has become the heart of thrifting in Boston. Maizes and Crosby-Lizarde plan to continue running the organization full-time after they graduate in May.
Founded with the mission to unite the Boston community, celebrate fashion, promote sustainability and support local artists, all Select events are free and easily accessible via train. Gone are the days of wandering endlessly from shop to shop or taking long MBTA rides across the city — Select brings together the best vintage finds all in one place. While navigating the endless racks and piles of clothes can seem overwhelming, you’re guaranteed to find something special and leave feeling accomplished. If the shopping isn’t enough, Select events create a vibrant community atmosphere, complete with music, dancing and an overall sense of good vibes.
“If someone could go to the event and spend the entire day there, then we did our job right,” Maizes said.
To Maizes, the focus is on community, while the shopping is just part of the fun. He shared one of his proudest moments from this past year – being recognized on the street by a man who'd attended a Select event. At one of their events, the man ran into an old friend he hadn’t seen in years, and the encounter brought them back together.
“If he went there, didn’t buy anything at all, but saw that friend, that alone would have been a good experience,” Maizes said.
Over the course of the past year, Select has expanded from small 300-person events to huge events like their Anniversary Thrift Market last November, which featured 90 vendors and 80,000 square feet of vintage fashion, food trucks and more. The lines wrapped around the block, and inside, the atmosphere buzzed with people bargaining. No one left without a bag full of treasures.
For the final event of 2024, Select hosted a winter market at the Foundry, a festive vintage pop-up perfect for finding unique holiday gifts — even for those loved ones who seem to have everything. In 2025, Select plans to continue expanding, hosting monthly events across Boston that promise to be even more exciting, complete with merchandise and nightlife events. Anticipate exciting new trends in fashion, including man purses, mixing metals and statement glasses.
Whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or just looking for a fun weekend activity, be sure to catch the next Select event. The upcoming Select Thrift Markets are set for Feb. 15 and Feb. 22 at the Revere Hotel next to the Boston Common — you might just find that pair of red sparkly cowboy boots you’ve been dreaming of!
