Sustainability isn’t a new trend in fashion or design, but in a city known for its love affair with all things luxury, Miami’s uptick in community-driven flea markets, thrift shops and secondhand boutiques is a refreshing plot twist.
Local fashionistas, design enthusiasts and the vintage-curious seemingly can’t get enough pre-loved pieces. Whether you’re active on Depop or a regular at the Magic City Flea, there’s no denying the magic of finding a nostalgic treasure that speaks to you, and it’s this very magic that inspired Memento Assemblage.
On the outskirts of Midtown and the Design District, Memento Assemblage is redefining the concept of vintage shopping. Seamlessly blending the art of collecting and connecting, this intimate space isn’t just about selling vintage, it’s about creating a community.
Miami’s vintage surge is being led in large part by young people seeking out like-minded friends. So it’s not surprising that Memento is as much about the treasures as it is about the people. “You can collect objects, but you can also collect experiences and connect with each other,” says Memento Asseblage founder Nathalie Dessus of her concept.
Dessus has been in the game for almost as long as she can remember, inheriting her grandfather’s passion for collecting and curating vintage everything since her teenage years. “In my mid-20s, my apartment was starting to look like a museum, borderline thrift store,” she says. By 2020, she had channeled her pastime into a business with the launch of Memento Assemblage as a social media-based shop and this July, the IRL storefront made its debut.
Nothing haunts you more than the vintage you don’t buy.
Memento sells an eclectic mix of vintage treasures, from mid-century glassware to statement bar carts and artworks in a variety of mediums. With this diverse array of vintage gems, Dessus hopes shoppers will discover something that speaks to their souls—be it a subtle touch of retro charm, a bold centerpiece or, her personal favorite, a special piece of glassware that feels empowering in hand. Each item contains its own story, waiting for the right person to continue its journey.
“Nothing haunts you more than the vintage you don’t buy,” says Dessus. But the curator never wants someone to buy a piece just to buy it. Funding and running everything on her own, Dessus operates the space from a place of love and wishes for people to buy from a place of love, as well.
This heartfelt, experiential approach sets Memento Assemblage apart in Miami’s evolving vintage scene as Dessus, a sort of anti-gatekeeper, seeks to cultivate a space for building community. “There is a stigma with art and vintage,” she says. “People sometimes get intimidated, stepping into a gallery or antique store because of the prices. Here, I want it to be accessible to everyone.”
As a gateway for amateur collectors and curators, Memento will also host intimate gatherings and events like floral design workshops and art-making sessions, as well as collaborate with local and international creators on pop-ups and special collections.
“This is a space where you can come as you are,” Desuss emphasizes. “It’s all about having fun with it and really appreciating the beauty of connecting. When you connect with an object, you’re able to connect that object to a time and space in your life, later on.”
Who knows? You might find that perfect piece you never knew you needed, or stumble into a great conversation with a fellow curious shopper. At Memento Assemblage, the treasures aren’t just on the shelves, they’re in the unexpected connections.
Memento Assemblage is located at 152 NW 37th Street and is open Friday and Saturday from 12 to 6pm and by appointment all other days. Follow on social media @memento.mia for all shop updates and @assemblage.mia for event updates.