First Louisiana Vintage Fest features 40 vendors, music and burlesque at House of Blues
Chris Olsen grew up around antiques in upstate New York. His father liked to buy and restore them. But he got into the vintage business after he noticed a spike in interest during the pandemic.
“During Covid, there was a boom in vintage,” Olsen says. “People in their 20s and 30s were sitting home with a lot of cash. First sneakers got too expensive, so people moved on to T-shirts. The famous Grateful Dead Lithuania shirt from when they sponsored the Lithuanian basketball teams in the ’90s — they were going for $600. They became collectibles, like baseball cards or things like that.”
Olsen later opened the shops Swamp Rags and Vice & Graft for curated used goods in the French Quarter. And this week, he and his wife, Megan Olsen, kickoff the first Louisiana Vintage Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the House of Blues.
The fest will feature more than 40 vendors, plus music highlighted by Joshua Starkman, and other attractions, like photo booths and portrait artists.
The Olsens have lived in the Quarter for most of the last dozen years. Originally, they opened Swamp Rags on St. Louis Street, and it focused on clothes from the ’80s and ’90s. Then they opened Vice & Graft on Royal Street, where they focus on curated vintage clothes, from the ’70s back to the Victorian era. Both shops are currently operating out of 927 Royal St. until they find a new location for Swamp Rags.
The shops are full of local finds, from T-shirts from the 1984 World’s Fair to pennants and carnival game prizes from Pontchartrain Beach. Vice & Graft draws fans of vintage wear as well as collectors and local film productions.
“For ‘Interview with the Vampire,’ they literally came and bought two full racks of Victorian clothing for costumes,” Olsen says.
As they’ve delved into the world of vintage, they’ve traveled to vintage shows, which can be quite large in some cities.
“There are huge vintage festivals all over the country,” Olsen says. “There’s one called ThriftCon, and that’s sort of a traveling one. There’s one in Massachusetts and a bunch in New York City. They always skip New Orleans. We have sold at festivals before in Houston and Atlanta. Those festivals will pull in 10,000 people, and everyone is traveling to them.”
They decided to create an event in New Orleans, but make it more like festivals here.
Instead of a massive convention center type of space, they wanted to hold it in the French Quarter. At House of Blues, they’re filling six rooms, from The Parish and main club room to the outdoor spaces. Starkman is the headliner, and there’s also music from Becky Lynn Blanca and Allay Earhart, as well as DJs. Burlesque dancer Bella Blue will perform as well.
Most of the 40 vendors are local, but some are coming from Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Pensacola. Many fill different niches of vintage clothes and collectibles, but there also will be some who rework pieces, like dyeing fabrics or creating new pieces. Photo opportunities at the fest include set-up backdrops and Polaroids, and a photography vendor will be on site.
The Olsens moved to New Orleans after getting both engaged here and married here. While living in the French Quarter, they've made friends with other shop owners and local musicians. They’re holding the festival in August to help participating shop owners and the district during a normally slow month. They also hope to help rebuild the district’s neighborhood appeal for locals and tourists alike.
Louisiana Vintage Fest is noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Early admission is 10:30 a.m.-noon. Find information at louisianavintagefestival.com. Advance tickets $10 at some local businesses, or $20.85 and up via ticketmaster.com.