I had a lot of goals as I rolled into 2020; some of them stuck, others were whisked away in the turmoil of Pandemic life. I’m happy to say that although I still have a long way to go, I achieved significant improvements in my transition from fast fashion to slow fashion.

Moving to a new country in August 2020 was overwhelming in so many ways (many of which I will address at a later time when I have more energy), but let’s start with a lighter component: it’s safe to say that my closet took a hit during the moving process as there are only so many suitcases one person can carry! Nevertheless, I was determined to avoid the easy route and run to the mall upon my arrival in Germany- instead, I took my time, wandering the streets in search of secondhand clothing shops.

Aachen is a beautiful city right along the Northwest border of Germany, and normally a popular tourist destination with its cobblestone streets, historic architecture and vibrant city centre. Not so much in 2020, though. It was more difficult than anticipated to acquaint myself with the city and its businesses.

Enter Christina, and our serendipitous meeting: I met my new friend Hannah at her beautiful new ceramics shop (Zaand Ceramics) right down the street from my flat to do some branding work for her space about two months after I showed up in Aachen. Christina was already there, sipping a coffee in her perfectly coordinated monochromatic outfit, passionately sharing her new business goals and ideas. She instantly welcomed me like an old friend when I walked through the door. I listened in awe and excitement as she described her hopes and visions for her secondhand clothing shop, and we bonded over the beauties and struggles of small business ownership.

Fast forward to December: Christina and I have worked on some wonderful projects together, and I now have the privilege of documenting her stunning space. This is Secondhandmade by Schwarzmarkt, and I invite you to take a peek into the expertly curated world that Christina has created.