Pre-Loved: The Stories of Others in Our Cart

The second season of Cantiere Scandurra, a podcast by Scandurra Studio in collaboration with Collater.al, opens with an episode exploring the cultural significance of second-hand shopping. Architect Alessandro Scandurra, founder of the studio, uses the phenomenon of pre-loved goods to examine how contemporary society constructs meaning, memory, and belonging. The episode argues that the rise of vintage, analog photography, and vinyl records reflects a desire for durability in an increasingly fast-paced and interconnected world. The term 'pre-loved' suggests objects carry traces of previous lives, making them more than just used items. Younger generations have embraced this emotional language, finding value in objects that tell stories. Digital platforms like Vinted facilitate these exchanges, recreating social dynamics reminiscent of traditional markets through chats, negotiations, and reviews. Scandurra notes that these platforms function as contemporary marketplaces where goods, stories, and identities circulate. Ultimately, choosing pre-loved items is a way to reconnect with time and others, seeking continuity in a rootless present.