The Nifty Market: Christchurch's Colourful Hub for Sustainable Style

The line stretches down the street, filled with people in colourful outfits, statement bags and coffee cups in hand - all waiting to step inside one of Christchurch’s most colourful weekend staples: The Nifty Market.

The popular pop-up event runs all summer long, celebrating second hand style, local creativity, and the joy of reusing what already exists. It’s hidden behind The Nifty consignment store, a pink-walled treasure trove for people to shop sustainable fashion in the city all year round. 

For stallholder Millie, a teenage business owner, thrifting has always been part of her story.

“I always went thrifting with my mum when I was younger,” she says. “We’d go to all the op shops, and I’ve loved it since I was a kid.”

What started as selling her own clothes for pocket money quickly turned into something bigger.

"I left school in 2022 and needed some money, so I just started selling my own clothes. Then I realised, oh, I could make more from this - so I started reselling and turned it into Thrift with Millie,” she says.

Her small idea has grown into a full-time business with a loyal following. She has amassed thousands of followers on social media, and there are always lines of customers at her stall hoping to get their hands on her stock.

Rosalie Richards, a registered nurse, runs her brand Vaulted Eternity on the side - selling high-quality second-hand pieces that she sources in her spare time.

“I started last December by selling some of my grandma’s clothing,” she says. “People loved it, and I realised how fun it was - so I decided to keep going.”

Balancing a full-time job with a creative side hustle isn’t easy, but for Rosalie, it’s worth it.

“It is hard. I probably don’t balance it very well yet,” she laughs. “But I finish work at four, go thrifting for an hour, and then spend the weekends at markets. I’ve met so many lovely and supportive people - it’s an amazing community.”

She focuses on quality and longevity over trends when it comes to choosing clothing for her stall and her own wardrobe.

For Rosie Carroll, the founder and owner of Nifty, the market has always been about more than just clothes.

“Market day is about encouraging people to step out of their comfort zone and let clothing speak to them,” she says. “It’s a chance to explore and express your style.”

Nifty’s story began seven years ago, when Rosie first launched the flea market out of Benny’s Barbershop in Christchurch.

“It was still pretty post-earthquake back then - there wasn’t much of a second hand scene, or even many things for young people to do,” she says.

Now, with the Nifty consignment store open six days a week, that dream has evolved into something much bigger.

“Consignment means we sell on behalf of other people, so anyone can come in and sell their clothing with us,” Rosie explains. “It’s a cool way to engage in fashion more mindfully - you can bring clothes in, sell them, and use that money to find new ones. It’s almost like a clothes swap that never ends.”

Whether it’s a nurse chasing creativity, a young entrepreneur growing her thrift empire, or a local founder building community, everyone at Nifty shares the same vision to make fashion fun, accessible, and sustainable.