Who We Are — The R&R Vintage Story

Who We Are — The R&R Vintage Story

By Rafael

If you had told us two years ago that we’d be running a vintage designer bag, jewelry, and accessory business out of Florence, Italy, we probably would’ve laughed—somewhere between a “you’re crazy” smirk and a half-confused “why not?” But life has a way of throwing open unexpected doors when you least expect it.

I’m Rafael, and my wife Ronja and I are the “R&R” behind R&R Vintage. Our story begins just over a year ago in Tokyo, Japan, a place that changed everything for us. I had the incredible opportunity to live there for three months for modeling work, and Ronja joined me not long after. What we thought would be a short-term adventure turned into something much more meaningful.

Tokyo isn’t just another city, it’s an experience. Its approach to fashion is thoughtful, expressive, and full of personality. As we explored the city’s vintage shops, we fell in love with the idea that fashion doesn’t have to be fast to be exciting. There’s something beautiful about giving new life to pre-owned designer pieces that already carry stories of their own.

When we returned to Sweden, the idea lingered. Buying new items—and contributing to the fast fashion industry just didn’t feel right anymore. We began seeking out items with character, and what started as an interest quickly turned into a full-blown passion. Then, we took the leap, quit our jobs, packed up our lives (and our two dogs), and moved to Florence, Italy. And in early 2024, R&R Vintage was born.

We’re a small, independent business and we own and ship all vintage items directly from our studio in Florence. We take what we do seriously, every item we sell is 100% authentic and carefully sourced from licensed luxury resellers with many years of experience. No compromises. No guessing. We understand how much trust it takes to shop pre-loved designer fashion online, and we work hard to earn and maintain that trust. Authenticity, quality, and openness are at the heart of everything we do.

Ronja has an incredible eye for timeless vintage pieces and if you ever see a post that looks effortlessly beautiful, it’s probably her work. As for me - well, I’m not exactly sure what I do besides writing these blogs and losing my mind trying to come up with creative ideas. But somehow, it works.

Our mission is to find pieces that are edgy, feminine, and different—items that stand out and tell a story. We’re honest about the condition of every item in our shop and never hide flaws. If we wouldn’t buy it ourselves, we won’t list it.

Running R&R Vintage has been one of the most rewarding journeys of our lives. We feel incredibly fortunate to work together, to follow a dream we believe in, and to build a community that values quality, individuality, and sustainable fashion.

So that’s us. That’s how it all started. And we’re just getting warmed up.

Thank you for being a part of the R&R Vintage family.

With love,
Ronja & Rafael
R&R Vintage – Authentic Vintage Designer Bags, Jewelry & Accessories