Jany, a local resident, showcases her upcycling workshops at the three-day event focused on thrift and sustainability in Tilburg.
In the city of Tilburg, a notable event called the Secondhand Festival is taking place, and local resident Jany is actively participating by hosting workshops focused on upcycling. The festival, which spans three days, emphasizes the importance of thrift stores and recycling initiatives, drawing attention to sustainable practices in the community.
Jany, who works as a project manager during the week, has embraced a wide range of creative hobbies, which she initially picked up after becoming a mother. In an interview with Brabants Dagblad, she shared, “I started making crochet items for my children and gradually rolled into various creative hobbies. Our eldest still says: ‘Mom, you have a new hobby every month.’” Her interests include knitting, crocheting, leather dyeing, making miniatures, and crafting jewelry, alongside her newfound passion for upcycling older goods.
A key motivator for Jany is her perspective on consumer habits and the fast-paced trends that dominate fashion and home decor. “People are still too sensitive to trends. Items in perfect condition are simply replaced. Why not give them a second, third, or fourth life?” she questions, highlighting the potential for sustainability through a creative lens.
Jany’s inclination toward secondhand items is reflected in her shopping habits, with her often turning to platforms like Vinted, Marktplaats, or local thrift stores. The vibrant colors that she adores are also evident in her work, which is a central aspect of her business named Kleurkabouter—a moniker that pays homage to her fondness for gnomes. She noted, “A friend came up with that. It couldn’t be more fitting,” signaling her playful approach to her crafts.
In preparation for her workshops, Jany has transformed her studio in Goirle into a colorful creative space where she works on various projects, including decorating old cassette tapes, an item she fondly recalls from the 1980s. She remarked, “Here you are with your old tapes. But you can do so many fun things with them, like painting or decorating.” This creativity is part of her mission to inspire others to view old items not as disposable, but rather as raw materials for new artistic endeavors.
On a Saturday afternoon during the festival, Jany transported her collection of spray-painted cassette tapes to Kringloop Tilburg, where she showcased her work as part of her workshops. She stressed the program’s core message: “Nobody is uncreative. There is still so much to gain from old items. You just have to look at them differently. That’s what I want to share with the people of Tilburg.”
As the Secondhand Festival ongoingly evolves, local creatives like Jany highlight the potential for upcycling as a meaningful alternative to rapid consumerism, encouraging community engagement in sustainable craft practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services
