My way of experiencing “circular” fashion.

The “recycling” of used clothes is certainly not an invention of the young green activists of the twenty-first century! 

For those of my generation, or the previous one, it was considered normal to reuse the clothes of your older brothers or cousins. A very common habit, especially in large families, like mine.

Since we twins were the first of five children, everything was “new” for us, from the wardrobe to the accessories, the games, the schoolbooks: our circular micro-economy began with us, moving forward from brother to brother, ending only when the product had exhausted its virtuous circle of use and reuse.

Each “used” object has many stories to tell.

Its intrinsic value has in fact nothing to do with the accessibility of the price, an advantage certainly appreciable by those who choose to buy second hand products and accessories, but it concerns the extraordinary ability of the object to become the vehicle of a new story to tell, through the image and style of those who choose to wear it.

In a society dominated by fast fashion and a “wear & throw” mentality, extending the life of clothes is not only a sustainable choice, but also a powerful revolutionary act capable of subverting the rules of a business model that is harmful both to man and to the environment.

The difference between used and vintage: a question of style.

Often when we talk about used and vintage we are confused. As a true lover of vintage, I will try to clarify the difference: an item of clothing, an accessory or a piece of furniture is defined as “vintage” not simply because it is used, but because it contains the story of the fashion, costume and design of a given era. 

Unlike used objects, Vintage gains value with age. The term itself gives a precise indication, in fact it derives from the old French language vint (twenty) and age (years). 

The magic of vintage is that refreshes the beauty of the Past.

There is something magical in every vintage object, be it a piece of furniture or an item of clothing.

I call it “the spell of memories“: it is a feeling that I get every time I walk through the markets and come into contact with these objects rich in history.

When I lived in Paris, I was a frequent visitor of “the Marché aux puces” of porte de Clignancourt. I used to go there almost every Sunday to find some “special object”. I loved rummaging through the various stalls in search of a distant memory that would drag me into a completely different era and culture. 

Looking for unique object has always been my passion.

I have always loved wandering around and browsing through the various flea markets, antique shops.

I do it often, even here in Rome, where we have seen a real boom in the vintage market in recent years. One of my favorites is certainly the Monti Urban Market, a reference point for many artisans, designers and stylists.

You can find unique and original pieces, handcrafted creations, vintage clothes, hand made accessories.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for something even more particular like period furniture, an art nouveau lamp or the super requested Olivetti Lettera 22, you might find it by entering one of the many vintage or antique shops in the historic and famous district Rione Monti.

This weekend I will take you around Porta Portese with me.

Tired of spending another weekend in a shopping mall? Well, this is the right day to take a real break and enjoy this vintage FRAday from start to finish!

We will spend it together going through the crowded counters of Porta Portese, a flea market also dedicated to antiques and modern art.

Once the tour is over, I will open my memory closet to show you all the vintage items I am most fond of.

If you are curious to discover them, I invite you to visit my Instagram page.

Enjoy!