Trinket Girl Market creates women-centered space for local artists
Since its first five-vendor pop-up in October 2024 in Native Blends’ parking lot, Trinket Girl Market quadrupled in vendor size and saw significant growth in foot traffic, according to Sanchez and Vaughn.
“Everybody here is so supportive of each other,” Sanchez said. “It’s really nice to watch our vendors become friends and trade products with each other.”
Vaughn has been selling her handmade jewelry at Market Days on The Quad for three years now, through which she has created connections with local patrons and vendors.
“[Market Days] are the same vibes as Trinket Girl,” Vaughn said. “I see the same people who come there and go straight to me, so we’re looking to set up on campus and maybe collaborate with an organization.”
As an establishment partially founded and heavily supported by women at Texas State, Trinket Girl Market has many ties with the university and worked with university organizations like Scrap Society and the Fashion Merchandising Association and looks forward to continuing its connections.
Sanchez and Vaughn said they wanted a space where people could make art, start conversations and trade with their peers. Each market has a coloring station and a craft table that changes each month.
“Every month when we do the craft table, it is free,” Sanchez said. “So, you don’t always have to spend money when you come to these markets, we always want to offer something for everyone.”
Kelsey Zientek, owner of Kels & Co and recent Texas State graduate, sells handmade keepsakes like clay magnets, stickers and photostrips of her favorite celebrities on Etsy. ‘Artist Alley’ was her second time vending at the Trinket Girl Market in Kissing Alley.
“I like to say when women are together, we tend to show up as the best versions of ourselves because we’re not facing that judgement,” Zientek said. “In my experience, women are very uplifting, and so that environment is very present here.”
Katelyn Cardenas, owner of Bibble’s Brew, founded her business almost a year ago as an internship for her business analytics master’s program at Texas Lutheran University, after growing up drinking coffee and working in coffee shops in college. This is her first time vending at the Trinket Girl Market.
“I love the very girly environment. The fact that it is in an alley makes it more like an exclusive feel,” Cardenas said. “And the vendors and coordinators are making videos and making it fun and exciting for everyone.”
