What if we repurpose an empty shopping mall into a community co-working eco-centre ?
This warehouse burnt down in the middle of the city next to houses 5 mins walk from le millénaire.
picture made by Sinead Sauer
Brunt warehouse
Workers carrying goods in the street with trolley bringing stuff to different warehouse
Man carrying boxes
picture made by Sinead Sauer
Shopping mall
This is the millénaire as a shopping center. With many empty slots
picture made by Sinead Sauer
From shopping-centre to eco-center
From le millénaire to the Mills, using the layout of previous shops to reduce renovation impact and cost.
Video by Sinead Sauer with map from "le millénaire"
illustration by Sinead Sauer with map from "le millénaire" website
A day in a dream
On a windy day with a slightly grey sky, my usual morning routine involved a last-minute rush through my flat to get ready. I reminded myself to grab an umbrella from the community "tool-share" downstairs before heading to my workshop.
I have multiple commuting options: walking, riding a bike, or taking the bus. Right outside my building, the street had been transformed into a "garden street" It is now compulsory near a school, allowing only bikes and pedestrians, creating a tranquil atmosphere in the heart of the city.
My workshop is located in "le millénaire" which we call "the mills" a repurposed shopping mall. It featured a large outdoor area with a community garden, reserved for residents of Aubervilliers and those in need. I have my own parcel to grow flowers and vegetables, as well as an indoor space to cultivate dyeing plants for my atelier.
The basement levels served unique purposes; the first as an indoor farming space, and the second dedicated to loud and dust-making machinery to reduce nuisance upstairs. We also host community events and, every two years, French Fashion Weeks.
The main floor offered a range of services, including a coffee laundrette, repair atelier, industrial laundry, re-dye service, restaurants, coffee places, and community rooms. It also housed shops such as second-hand stores, small local brands, a beloved clothing rental shop, and the wonderful Ressourcerie for textiles.
On the second floor, creative minds thrived with various workshops, next to my atelier the screen printing studio is always active. This building is a wind of change, in a vibrant and ever-evolving community.
if the governement get involved ?
In a bustling suburb of Paris, I found myself standing in a place known as “le millénaire.” Today, this place is alive with celebration, marking the 15th anniversary of the regulation plan that had forever altered the landscape of the garment industry. But to fully appreciate the significance of this moment, let's go back in time.
In 2023, the European government voted on a regulation that would reshape the garment industry. By 2025, the first implementation had come to life, restricting the importation of synthetic garments to reduce imports in the coming years.
In 2030, the regulation expanded its scope to include the importation of raw materials, further limiting their inflow. However, it was in 2035 the measure taken focused on imposing strict quotas for the importation of such items.
Now we are meeting the last milestone, the importation of garments and fabric made of natural fibres, which have been limited since 2025. Today, the agricultural aspect of natural fibres is regulated. It means that any imported natural fibres or raw materials are cultivated with sustainable practices.
So today I am here to celebrate with my community, this new milestone which changed the fashion industry, and made our local community stronger and more creative. I won’t lie it was challenging, luckily French people have a lot of “Tiers-Lieux” which were examples of thinking out of the capitalist box.
We created “the mills”, it is the nickname of “le millénaire” because we produce garments, transform raw fibres into thread and make fabric, like in a mill.
Repurposing a shopping centre has brought the community together. Local seamstresses started making sewing classes, and then designers and engineers came together to rebuild an industry we had lost.