INTERVIEW #54 REMIRA MARKET
Based in: Milan and Parma, Italy
Founded in: 2019
Founded by: Katia Meneghini & Virginia Tardella
Shop at: Milan,Via Luigi Nono 9,Tempio del Futuro Perduto & Parma, Borgo delle Colonne 28, ColonneVentotto
Online: www.remiramarket.com
Instagram: @remira_market
What is Remira Market and what is the story behind this cool initiative?
Remira Market is a flea market based in both Milan and Parma, aiming to give new value to second-hand clothes and objects. Remira Market aims to raise awareness on climate change, promoting a sustainable lifestyle. We are Katia Meneghini & Virginia Tardella, two friends based in Milan, passionate about second-hand and vintage finds. Katia is a creative consultant in the field of art and design co-founder of CTRLZAK studio with a focus on sustainable development, while Virginia is the co-founder of Worldrise, a non-profit organisation about marine preservation. After spending the last years in Italian and international markets, sometimes as sellers, but most of them as expert“vintage diggers” we have decided to create a market in our own image: focused on sustainable and ecological practices, all the while enriched by cultural happenings, live performances and workshops.
How does the concept work?
Remira’s format was developed to create a sense of inclusive community. Our motto “Reuse & Ravana” is an invitation to search among the stands, and to recycle pre-loved objects and clothes, in order to provide them with new meanings. Visitors of the market are encouraged to bring their own tote bags to shop with us, to carry are fillable water bottle and make use of the local fountain, and finally to come by bike and park it in the dedicated area within the market. For every Remira event, we host talks, exhibitions, performances and sustainability-themed workshops, where different experts explain the importance of a less impactful footprint. We try to promote a sustainable, unconventional and inclusive closet. Remira supports small designers and creatives, giving visibility to hand-made projects. We help vintage collectors and small independent brands get known to the public, online and offline.
Who is the typical Remira visitor? Who comes shopping at the market?
Remira attracts mainly the millennials, the fashion-addicts, underground personalities, sustainability junkies, local and international students, but the local elderly of the neighbourhood also visit us, wriggling among the stalls to find their own little treasures. At Remira, you can find something for all tastes, guaranteed!
We still haven't explored the market but can't wait to do it, what can we expect to find there?
Remira hosts many diverse exhibitors, offering all kinds of second-hand or handmade goods. From solid cosmetics to upcycled clothes, you can find vintage tableware, handmade or recycled jewellery, and even a holistic area with tarot readers and crystal specialists. All Remira venues have eliminated plastic items in their bars and serve fresh drinks and snacks all day long. We also organise special music events or DJ sets: at Remira Market visitors can shop, relax and have fun, all in gorgeous locations, a hidden garden in the city center of Milan and in Parma inside a deconsecrated church.
What have been and are the major challenges of starting the Remira Market?
Back in 2019, right after we started, the pandemic had just started spreading all over the world, forcing us to stop the live events. We managed to make the best out of the situation and decided to run a temporary virtual version of the market in order to give visibility to professionals who weren’t able to work during those difficult months. It has been a very successful start, and Remira has kept growing since then!
What has been the largest gain so far?
Remira is not just a market but something much bigger. A hub of contemporary proposals, talks, sustainable workshops, but it is above all a celebration. The market represents a meeting point A place for exchange and for new encounters. Each edition of the Remira Market is vibrant, thanks to the incredible energy of those who visit it, making it truly unique. Meeting these people and being able to orchestrate moments of heartfelt inclusiveness is our greatest satisfaction.
What do you think needs to change now in the fashion industry to make it more sustainable?
We are living in a somewhat troubled historical moment and we all know that immediate measures and actions are needed. The fashion industry needs stricter rules, and controls, but most of all unified regulations. The fact remains that to be sustainable, one must produce less and design better.
What would you advise consumers to do who seek to create a sustainable closet and lifestyle?
Our advice is to start with small actions. There is no need to completely revolutionise your entire wardrobe, nor change your lifestyle overnight. The important thing is to be conscious of what we do and what we have, in order to make the most of it. We recommend evaluating what we already have in our closet, only getting rid of what we don't need, while starting to include vintage or second-hand pieces that will complete some looks and make them new and unexpected. Visiting flea markets and second hand shops is a unique experience and certainly the most sustainable. For those who are not used to it, we would approach it slowly and discover the pleasure of finding unique pieces that attract you over time. Try different shops and different markets because each one will have its own particularities, so start with the one that is closest to you.
Are you planning on taking your concept to other cities in the near future?
Remira Market has already been happening in Milan and Parma for a year now, but we keep receiving many proposals in order to take it to other cities. We are considering different scenarios but the fundamental ingredient for the magic of Remira is affinity: we want to make sure that we share the same values with the places that host us.