The Rodeo Night Market took place on Jan. 25 from 6-11 p.m., with local vendors selling vintage items, jewelry and clothing. Some of these items included bottoms from the clothing brand, Ed Hardy, a brand name that was well-known during the early 2000s. Even during the chilly night, shoppers walked around Lowbrow palace buying their new favorite items.

Amongst the many vintage vendors at the night market was 25-year-old business owner Cristina Benitez, who owns a Y2K-inspired clothing business, Crispy Thrift. Benitez sells items she finds in thrift stores, swap meets, estate sales or from traveling around town. Her items range from street wear, athletic clothes and more.

“I mostly sell second-hand clothing mostly from the 90s up to the 2000s,” Benitez said. “These are popular trends amongst young people and also some memories that older people can relate to.”

As Y2K fashion begins to rise in popularity thanks to social media, Benitez reflects on El Paso’s reputation with the style.

­“I feel like more young people are bringing in the Y2K kind of fashion and I hope to see that more around the street,” Benitez said. “I just like the fashion industry and the passion that people put into their outfits.”

Benitez was not alone representing Krispy Thrift at the night market as she was accompanied by 26-year-old Raquel Lujan, looking upon customers and assisting Benitez.

As Lujan begins to arrange clothing, she explains how the Y2K trend has spread while also drawing similarities between Y2K and Chicano fashion.

“I feel like you would see Y2K fashion more often in bigger cities like Los Angeles or New York especially in the younger generation,” Lujan said. “It depends where you are and what community you identify yourself with, like Chicano style is very correlated with Y2K style or 90s style because of its very baggy clothes related to the culture.”

As the night sky began to grow darker and the ambience of the market began to calm down, 16-year-old Addison Lopez, a junior at Pebble Hills High School browsed through items at the market in the company of her friend.

Lopez states that she had been to two night markets previously, with the one at Lowbrow being her third market and how advertisements for night markets have grown, especially among communities of those who enjoy thrifting.

“I’ve been seeing some advertisements around restrooms at school as well as posters at restaurants,” Lopez said. “They are usually in stalls and dispensers which catch a lot of people’s attention to be honest or also at thrift stores because everyone goes there.” 

Nonetheless, Lopez mentions that night markets are not common around high school students.

“I haven’t really seen high school students around here,” Lopez said. “I see a couple that I know and have seen around but people aren’t as aware about it as they should be.”

Texas Avenue began to slowly grow quiet as the once booming music faded and people parted ways. While the night market served as a source to find trending style and vintage items for some, the sight and feeling of camo print or Ed Hardy filled others with nostalgia as they took a trip down memory lane.

Daniela Ordaz is a contributor for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected].