A phenomenon called Retro Fridge Retrophilia is used to describe a person who has an abnormal appetite for vintage refrigerators. First of all, retro literally means reviving styles or fashions from the past, or being nostalgic towards a past era. Retrophilia thus means being intensely attracted to the past; so, Retro Fridge Retrophilia describes someone who is a fanatic about refrigerators redesigned to look like they are from the past.
Retro fridges are a popular household item and are found in many new and old homes alike. Certain companies, most notably SMEG and Big Chill, have based their entire business on producing retro refrigerators. These refrigerators transport people to a nostalgic time of the past, when things were simpler.
Historically, in the US, homemakers during past eras decorated their kitchens with a theme that featured bright, matching colors on their appliances and refrigerators. When people refer to these “retro refrigerators,” they often relate them, more specifically, to the 1950’s. This was an era when, stereotypically, women remained at the home as homemakers, while men went out to work. Companies tried to appeal to women aesthetically by featuring kitchen appliances in bright and pastel colors. Remington and Westinghouse are just a few of the companies that marketed print ads and catalogs towards women in the 1950s. They filled these catalogs with a wide variety of products in colors ranging anywhere from pink, blue, green, or yellow. This is very different from the basic stainless steel, white, or black colors used in modern kitchens today.
People often treat retro refrigerators like a piece of art. Retro fridges are also similar to antiques. Buying and displaying these refrigerators is like transporting your kitchen to another time. People who grew up in the past may have fond, bright memories of their childhood and treat these refrigerators like a time capsule. Therein, creating a phenomenon of Retro Fridge Retrophilia.
Retro Fridge companies or specialty stores create these fridges with their consumer in mind. They stick to original designs and styles consisting of silver hinge door handles, curved corners, large iceboxes or freezers, and bright, loud colors.
Popular television and cooking shows, (like Rachael Ray), often feature retro-designed refrigerators. Old-fashioned diners across America feature appliances and items that portray this Retro Fridge Retrophilia phenomenon. These diners, settings, and appliances are all the rage. People invest in vintage refrigerators the same way that they buy vintage designer gowns or timeless antiques.
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