If you love vintage, get ready to mark a date on your calendar: this weekend Milan becomes the European capital of second hand fashion.
On Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, Retrograde, Europe’s largest garage-sale by East Market, is back at Superstudio in via Tortona. An event that promises to blow the minds of anyone who loves to hunt for unique pieces, mix styles and rediscover fashion in a sustainable way.
Behind this somewhat mysterious name lies a universe of more than 90,000 selected garments, spread over 1,000 square meters.
Prices? As low as 1 euro. And yes, there is also a premium area with designer pieces for those who want to indulge in a little retro luxury.
The return of Retrograde: two days in vintage heaven.
Retrograde is not just a market: it is a true immersive experience in the world of vintage.
As soon as you enter you are swept away by a mix of colors, scents of lived-in fabrics and music that catapults you into decades of style history. From 1960s lodens to 1980s epaulette blazers, via skirts, furs, bomber jackets, and denim in all its shades.
Historical brands such as Wrangler, Lee, Levi’s, and Carhartt alternate with military, college, and tie-dye garments.
Between purchases, you can also stop by the custom area to have your garment customized with prints, patches or embroidery: because vintage is not just about the past, it is also about creativity and reinvention.
Sustainable fashion and second hand: style that’s good for the planet
Retrograde’s philosophy is the same one that has guided East Market for years: to combine aesthetics and sustainability.
Instead of chasing fast fashion, here we celebrate intelligent reuse, circularity and the value of what already exists. Every item, even the 1 euro item, tells a story and becomes a small gesture against mass production and waste.
There is no shortage of iconic “bargain baskets,” a must for the event: there you can find handbags, silk ties, leather accessories, pop-rock band merchandise and even designer pieces at bargain prices.
The atmosphere is relaxed, upbeat, with an audience ranging from fashion enthusiasts to the curious looking for a bargain or simply for inspiration.
Superstudio Più: the house of design that turns into a temple of vintage
The location chosen for Retrograde is not random. Superstudio Più, at 27 Via Tortona, is one of Milan’s most iconic spaces. Once a General Electric factory, it is now a creative hub of more than 10,000 m² dedicated to events, exhibitions and initiatives related to fashion, design and contemporary art.
Inside are modular environments such as the Gallery Room, Loft, Lounge and SuperClub, which host exhibitions, shootings, workshops and fashion shows.
Also at the entrance is MyOwnGallery, a concept gallery that promotes art and visual culture.
Superstudio Più is the ideal location for an event like Retrograde: it combines aesthetics, innovation and functionality, in the heart of a neighborhood, Tortona, that is now synonymous with fashion and creativity.
Here vintage naturally dialogues with the present, and the result is a shopping experience that has the energy of a festival.
East Market: the Milanese phenomenon that rewrote the rules of vintage
Retrograde was born from the experience of East Market, Milan’s first market dedicated to vintage and creative second-hand goods, which has become a reference point for retro fashion, design and collectibles enthusiasts.
With hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors at each edition, East Market has managed to make the concept of second hand cool, taking it out of clichés and turning it into a cultural phenomenon.
Retrograde represents its most fashionable evolution: a format entirely dedicated to clothing, curated with the same attention to detail, quality and sustainability.
All the practical information to participate in Retrograde 2025
If you are in or around Milan this weekend and want to spend a different day between fashion, music and sustainability, here is everything you need to know:
- When: Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Where: Superstudio, via Tortona 27 – Milan
- Admission: 4€ (free up to 12 years old, ticket refund with a minimum spend of 25€)
- Prices: from 1€ and up, with premium area for the most sought-after items
A word of advice: arrive early to scout out the best pieces!