We Are Rewind

We Are Rewind was founded in 2016 in Paris by Romain Boudruche, a dedicated enthusiast of retro sound technology who set himself an unusual and genuinely ambitious goal: design and manufacture a brand-new, high-quality portable cassette player for the modern era — the first of its kind to enter production in years. Inspired by a wave of 80s nostalgia sparked by films and shows like Guardians of the Galaxy and Stranger Things, Boudruche partnered with ORA and French engineers boasting over 40 years of analogue experience, including time at the respected Thomson company.

That deep engineering pedigree shows in the details. We Are Rewind introduced two genuine world firsts for a portable cassette player: a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery in place of disposable ones, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, letting listeners stream music from their phone through the same device that plays their favourite tapes. The design itself draws clear inspiration from the original Sony Walkman, finished in aluminium rather than plastic for a genuinely premium, tactile feel — right down to a stereo recording function that lets owners create their own mixtapes.

Now known for colourful, icon-named editions and celebrated collaborations, including special releases honouring Elvis Presley and Duran Duran, We Are Rewind has built a genuinely devoted following among collectors and design enthusiasts — proof that cassette culture, reimagined thoughtfully, still has plenty to say.