It’s hard to believe that The Dallas Flea will soon celebrate its 3rd birthday. Each trip to our city’s handmade and vintage shopping expo is as exciting as the first. This ultimate glam garage sale has become a quarterly tradition, drawing vendors and visitors from all over Texas - and keeping things fresh is part of its core design.   “I really make an effort to bring in new vendors, which makes it a new show every time,” explains founder Brittany Cobb.  

Back Alley Furniture

  Preferring the term “curated” when describing her market’s thoughtful selection, Cobb carefully evaluates some 275 inquiries to arrive at the 60-75 artisans and dealers who will ultimately set up shop at each Flea. The result? A balanced and tempting spread of home décor, clothing, jewelry, furniture, edibles, and more, spanning a range of price points and aesthetics. No wonder it was recently named one of the Top 25 Flea Markets in America by Romantic Homes Magazine.  

Lolafalk Bags & Luggage

  In two long, bountiful lanes in the main gallery at South Side on Lamar, these vendors converge every three months (or so).  Over the past few Fleas, Airstreams and pop-up trailers have also added to the fun, with mini-boutiques and mobile cafés lining the streets outside the main event. From the first breakfast burrito sold to fuel a morning of treasure-hunting, to the final vintage sweater scooped up in the afternoon, each Flea draws some 2,000 shoppers.  

Pocket Full of Heirlooms

  Speaking of which, we’re already mapping out our plan of attack for the next go-round, coming up on September 15th. In our exclusive chat with Cobb, she noted three especially enticing new vendors among those making their debuts.   Cobb’s picks, though she notes it was very hard to choose, include Les Amis, for starters. As reported here at DFW Style Daily by Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Les Amis features a range of jewelry from all around the world, with a portion of proceeds benefitting The Global Fund for Children. Pocket Full of Heirlooms will also bow on September 15th, a shop-on-wheels filled with home décor items and unique finds. Lastly, new vendor Southern Hippie hails from Georgetown, Texas, and will offer a selection of boho-chic clothing and accessories.  

Les Amis Jewelry

  And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Dozens more discoveries await at the next Flea, plus returning favorites including Salvagenation, Southern Fried Paper, the Kitchen Beautician, and Rapid City Vintage.   In closing, we picked Cobb’s brain about the future of the Flea, and we got some great scoop. Turns out, a new location and even a new format could be in store in the near future, in order to accommodate more vendors and visitors. “2013 will be a major year,” she revealed, adding, “At the end of the day, it’s about supporting the artists, and the more, the merrier.”   For more information and to plan your trip, visit TheDallasFlea.com.   (Photos via Facebook.com/DallasFlea and ShopLesAmis.com)