As in the lyrics of the national anthem, the word retiemble evokes movement. And that's what inspired Iran Dimas to create a dynamic store. Here, local art is displayed, coffee is served and Mexican clothing brands are sold. But that's not all Rretiemble is. Iran wanted a space that would weave networks of support with the Tabacalera community. "Rretiemble is spelled with a double r to emphasize the power of oscillation, of vibration. That makes us think that we all move thanks to others". This is what Dimas confessed to us when we visited this space.
Clothes, t-shirts and socks
Among the things that catch Rretiemble's eye, is the guardian of the premises. Her name is Tiza and she greeted us with a bark as we entered and then sat down next to us. In the center of the store is a table with fanzines, magazines, the occasional t-shirt and socks. The rest of the clothes hang on two walls. The order of things is not random: the clothes are arranged by color, on racks that are easily removed (as in Tiempos Shop) to free up space.
Each garment at Rretiemble responds to Iran's curation, focusing on Mexican brands that work with local materials. There is, for example, Presencia, which makes garments with lace. There is also Soft Debris, whose specialty is tie dye. We also have Gag's leather cardholders and even El Borde, Iran's own clothing brand. In general, within that selection, the costs are somewhat high: from 500 to 9500 pesos.
In addition to Mexican brands with small-scale production, there is also a vintage selection that Rretiemble's friends have left in the store. A sort of pre-loved clothing looking for a second chance. In this section there are garments ranging from 50 to 400 pesos. We found a black Nike cotton dress for 250 pesos and thought it was amazing. To elevate the shopping experience, there is a coffee bar and three or four chairs.
Drinks and coffee in Rretiemble
The coffee bar, visible only from outside the store, is designed so that anyone who comes to the window can order their coffee to go. In other words, there are no tables inside or outside Rretiemble. If anything, there is a wooden bench that gets all the midday sun. Unlike the clothes, Rretiemble's drinks are much more affordable: an espresso costs 35 pesos, while a strawberry spritz or a carajillo costs 120 pesos. To take the scorching heat off, we tried the 80-peso matcha coco, and the experience was almost religious. We didn't need anything else.
The dynamism of Rretiemble lies in its proposal of contemporary and emerging art. One of Iran's tasks is to attract young and Mexican talent to exhibit their works. But unlike more traditional galleries or museums, the exhibitions at Rretiemble are usually open from Thursday to Sunday. "With this we seek to show that there are many things happening in the CDMX and that the question is not to stagnate, we want people to move," says Dimas.
Rretiemble has been very well received, despite only having opened in April of this year. The response from the residents of Jesús Terán Street has been a pleasant surprise. Many of Rretiemble's exhibitions revolve around sexual diversity, queer or gender fluidity, with guests on the same spectrum. Neighbors of all ages come to browse and often leave with a good impression. Therefore, the space is also an opportunity to learn and meet with those who are different from us.
For now, Rretiemble will continue to look for more artists and more friends who want to be part of this trend that doesn't seem to stop anytime soon.