INTERVIEW #45 REMAKE

Based in: Stockholm, Sweden

Founded by: Marie Teike

Shop at: Only sales in Sweden at the moment, pop-up at Nordiska kompaniet in Stockholm and Gothenburg and the website at www.remakestockholm.se

Price range: 700kr-12000 SEK

Why did you start Remake? 

I had been doing the same thing by myself for a long time so when I came back to Sweden after many years of living abroad and I was working in one of Stockholms Stadsmissions second hand shops I saw the possibility of doing this within the organisation. I was triggered by all the materials flowing through and not being sold.

How do you pick your products and what you sell? 

We carefully choose the materials we use in our production. We do this together with the main sorting site Stockholms Stadsmissions have in Stockholm. What materials we choose depends on what collection we have created and the collection is based on the flow of materials so it's very circular.

What have been and are the major challenges? 

Finding our place in the regular fashion market and not being the “alternative”. Sustainability should not be an “alternative” it should be expected.

What has been the largest gain?

Every day that we get to work with respect for the materials and every person involved in our production.

What do you think needs to change now in the fashion industry to make it more sustainable?

The communication and illusion that ”cheap is good”.

What do you believe is “greenwashing” and what can producers and consumers do to avoid it?

I believe many really want to make a difference and what worries me in regards to greenwashing (e.g. adding a sustainable collection to already existing not sustainable collections) is that it might justify not doing things that would actually make a huge difference.

What would you advise consumers to do who seek to create a sustainable closet and lifestyle?

Oh dear, so many advises and guidelines to follow it makes my head spin – “Don’t believe that cheap is good” I guess.