In Life in a Million Ads, coming to RTÉ One on 19 February, architect Roisín Murphy dives into the fascinating world of online marketplaces, where you can buy and sell just about anything.
With over a million subscribers and millions of ads, Roisín will uncover the fascinating stories behind just some of the buyers and sellers in the ever-increasing circular economy.
Speaking with RTÉ Lifestyle ahead of the show, Murphy says she hopes that the series will inspire viewers to think differently when it comes to shopping, and take on accountability for their buying and binning habits.
"I never approved of the Marie Kondo method of 'if it doesn't make you sing, throw it out'," she explains.
Japanese professional organizer Kondo went viral a number of years ago for her de-cluttering methods, which include getting rid of objects that fail to 'spark joy'.
"It's just a little bit facile," Murphy continues. "I think you have to be very careful about where you throw things and how you re-purpose things. Likewise, you have to be really careful with how you buy things."
As well as shopping second hand - online or off - Murphy says that consumers should turn their attention to local markets and small retailers.
"Those small hardware shops were like gold," she muses. "They were kind of like corner shops in Ireland, they were a really important part of the streetscape, so that big supermarket mentality has a big impact on towns."
Thankfully, the architect does believe that the tide is turning, with younger generations embracing the virtues of vintage fashion and second-hand furniture.
"I would know that from my own kids; they don't buy in ordinary shops, really. Maybe at Christmas they buy a new pair of shoes but, generally speaking, all their stuff is thrifted."
Moving forward, the TV presenterhopes to see the return of Dublin's street markets, not only to support local retailers and more sustainable habits, but to encourage communities to socialise as they used to.
"There used to be all these great markets in Ireland," she says, listing the Iveagh market, the Daisy Market, the Dandelion Market, and the Liberties Antique Market.
"We have a lovely flea market in Phibsborough at the moment," she smiles, "which is thriving, but you wonder how long we'll get to keep it before somebody decides to take the market from the people again."
Although she considers herself "quite eclectic" in how she lives (her mother still hasn't forgiven her for buying a fixer upper over a new build), she says that meeting the wide range of contributors on the show opened her eyes to the many different ways of living.
"They're having the craic," she smiles. "I was kind of inspired by the way they just got on with it and really enjoyed it. It's quite addictive - the buying and selling."
In one episode, Murphy is introduced to Eoin Reardon, a TikTok star who has amassed millions of followers thanks to his fascinating restoration videos.
"I found him really interesting because he's now heading off to do basket making, so it's all part of the same culture of living an alternative lifestyle but not being alternative - it's just about not buying in the same places and living an independent retail life."
Overall, Roisín believes that our modern practices aren't always as progressive as we like to think, and revisiting some old traditions may be the key to a more social and sustainable society.
"I think the city is failing us at the moment," she says. "The whole concept is failing worldwide. Small shops are being picked off the main street of cities so there's no sense of intimacy there.
"The protection of small retail in a city is really important," she adds. "We need to protect small shops and the individual shopkeeper. I've always made the argument that if you protect the ability to open a business on a corner, then you protect the price of the rent on those streets."
Mourning the loss of the much-talked about furniture shop, Knobs and Knockers, and the recent closure of P.Mac's pub in the city centre, Murphy argues that more must be done to preserve Dublin's character - for both tourists and locals alike.
"If the city is only for wealthy people to inhabit, it becomes very boring," she states. "We need to campaign more for the rights to our markets and to our shops."
Speaking on the recent protests of the €100 million redevelopment plan of St Stephen's Green shopping centre, Murphy says that she believes there has been a "shift in recognition that the city needs to change".
"Tiny changes can be made to that shopping centre to make it more viable," she insists. "That's the purpose of design. Demolishing it and rebuilding it is economic greed wrapped up as design."
"We can not have that level of greed in redevelopment when we have people living in tents on college green."
Watch Life in a Million Ads will air at 9.35pm on RTÉ One on Monday, 19 February.
