Trash to Treasure: Empowerment via Sustainable Creativity
By Octophina
To get a taste of what you missed, hit play below and dive into an AI-generated audio recap of our creative adventure — perfect for when your hands are busy but your mind is hungry.
What if discarded materials could fuel more than just sustainable fashion — sparking a global movement and a new kind of inclusive social club for empowerment?
Imagine discarded materials (in other words someone's trash) bringing together a vibrant community of sustainability enthusiasts and environment lovers of all ages, cultures, and skill levels. The trash fuels hands-on learning and creative activities and the community gains access to in-person events and digital resources focused on creative empowerment, upcycling innovation, and meaningful connection.
On March 8, 2025, this vision came to life.
A free community empowerment event, disguised as a sustainable fashion playground, proved that this idea isn’t utopia — it’s reality. Hosted at De Fabriek, funded by Vredesburo Eindhoven, and powered by a team of nearly 30 independent experts and enthusiasts from 10+ countries, the movement is quietly growing in Eindhoven, one casual Saturday at a time.
The Venue: More Than Just a Space
De Fabriek, a gorgeous, repurposed Dutch factory and hidden gem in the Gestel neighborhood with a Strijp-S flavor, became more than a venue. It transformed into a living prototype for a scalable model of creative empowerment, community building, and sustainable design.
The Focus: People, Not Fashion
But this was never about fashion. It wasn’t about International Women’s Day. The clothes, the runway, the upcycled décor — those were just tools.
The real focus? People. People brought together by curiosity, creativity, and the desire to connect. The rest was just context. The event became a creative rebellion and a metaphorical collective scream about the impact of fast fashion on the environment.
The experiment worked because it addressed two problems with a single solution:
Overconsumption and fast fashion.
Social disconnection and isolation.
The answer? A playground where people could explore, create, and belong — all while reclaiming discarded materials and transforming them into something meaningful.
The Experience: From Exploration to Empowerment
In just four hours, visitors immersed themselves in a free upcycling playground. They explored diverse skills — from mastering a sewing machine and working with 3D stamps to soldering lights and transforming discarded textiles into unique creations. The event’s free shop offered a treasure trove of materials, empowering guests to breathe new life into forgotten fabrics.
The experience culminated in the Radical Runway — an all-inclusive fashion show for empowerment, where anyone wearing black, white, or red was invited to walk the red carpet. Whether they arrived dressed in these colors, styled something from the pop-up shop, or upcycled pieces at the playground, everyone had the chance to take the stage.
Every element of the runway’s decor was entirely upcycled, a stunning fusion of gifted materials and rescued treasures from Emmaus Eindhoven. This unique approach turned the space into a living testament to the beauty of reimagined resources.
The color palette symbolized the full spectrum of the human experience: black and white representing light and darkness, with red flowing through us all. Originally envisioned as a space for women, the runway organically transformed into something even more profound — with an unexpected lineup of men taking the spotlight, subverting norms, and revealing how true empowerment transcends gender.
The Lounge: A Hub of Connection and Sustainable Shopping
The lounge area was more than just a place to relax — it was a vibrant social hub where creativity, community, and connection intertwined. Visitors could browse the pop-up collections, featuring unique items from Emmaus Eindhoven and pieces from the first TRASH?! sustainable fashion collection, featuring playwear, playkits, and successories created with discarded materials sourced at Emmaus Eindhoven.
Fusing Art and Multimedia Storytelling
The event also featured a captivating installation by multidisciplinary artist Amy Mom, who showcased the first version of an artistic concept she is developing — projecting videos onto mannequins to create a thought-provoking blend of fashion, technology, and storytelling.
This added yet another layer to the event’s mission: merging inspiration, entertainment, and education while giving emerging talents a platform to engage with their audience, gather feedback, and refine their work in a dynamic, supportive environment.
The TRASH?! Ecosystem: Scalable Impact Through Sustainable Creativity
The Sustainable Fashion Playground was more than an event — it was the debut of a global ecosystem with a scalable and sustainable business model designed for maximum social impact. Rooted in sustainability, creativity, and community empowerment, this ecosystem thrives on three interconnected pillars:
Education
Every event is a learning experience, offering free access to education, materials, and hands-on workshops. Participants gain practical skills, build confidence, and forge social connections while exploring the art of upcycling. These workshops and tutorials extend beyond the event, transforming into digital products that reach a global audience, ensuring the knowledge shared lives on and inspires others worldwide.
Events
In-person gatherings like the Sustainable Fashion Playground are immersive experiences that blend creativity, education, and community. Always free for the public, these events are funded as community empowerment initiatives. They not only offer moments of inspiration and connection but also serve as content creation hubs, capturing material for documentaries, online courses, and digital publications — amplifying their impact far beyond the event itself.
Sustainable Label
Limited-edition collections of upcycled fashion, furniture, and decor emerge from these creative playgrounds. Often the result of collaborations between students and mentors, these unique pieces are sold both on-site and online, turning discarded items into meaningful creations while generating revenue to sustain the ecosystem.
This model is as sustainable as the materials it works with.
Raw resources come at little to no cost — sourced from Emmaus through donations or purchases — and are transformed into creative fuel. Events spark free education, connection, and entertainment while generating digital content for ongoing sales. Revenue from digital products and upcycled collections funds the next wave of creativity, forming a continuous cycle of creation and connection.
Yet, the true heart of this model is the community. People arrive to learn, create, and connect. They leave as part of something bigger. What emerges isn’t just art or fashion — it’s a new kind of social infrastructure, where sustainability is the framework, creativity is the language, and human connection is the outcome.
The Origin Story: From Homelessness to Community Empowerment
In June 2022, I arrived in Eindhoven to rebuild my life — no job, no home, knowing barely five people. I drifted from place to place until Emmaus Eindhoven became more than shelter; it became my playground.
Emmaus gave me access to discarded materials and introduced me to life-changing people. Suddenly, my past as an artist, coach, model, and social entrepreneur clicked into place, and the vision for this event began to take shape.
I shared that vision with Hans from Vredesburo Eindhoven. He believed in it and funded the project — not just with money, but with trust. I stretched every euro, sourcing materials from Emmaus, securing free food, and building a digital platform to carry the movement forward.
This was never just about upcycling fashion. It was about reclaiming agency — proving that discarded materials and overlooked people hold endless potential. All they need is a space, a community, and a spark to turn trash into treasure.
What's Next: Join the Upcycling Revolution
Are you ready to unleash your creativity and give new life to discarded materials?
TRASH-a-thon is a five-day free summer school for all ages and skill levels, where makers, dreamers, and innovators come together to transform everything from textiles and wood to porcelain, electronics, and old lamps into unique, futuristic creations.
Blending technology and discarded materials, participants will have a chance to design and build unique creations with rare supplies sourced at Emmaus shops around the Netherlands.
The experience will culminate in a public exhibition, and your work will even be featured in the Maker Days future parade in September 2025.
Sign up below to show your interest and stay updated with all the details — dates, location, and how to join this unforgettable free upcycling summer adventure!
A Love Letter to the Dreamers and Doers of Eindhoven and Beyond
None of the magic on March 8 would have been possible without the incredible support and collaboration of so many hands and hearts. Huge gratitude to:
- Emmaus Eindhoven, Feniks, Langeweg, and Bilthoven for providing the raw materials.
- De Fabriek for offering a stunning space where ideas could flourish.
- Vredesburo Eindhoven for supporting the initiative financially and strategically.
- Simone and Junior IOT (and the independent volunteer Ari) for building a mind-blowing free technical station with access to 3D printers and soldering kits.
- Janine from Textiellab-040 for providing supplies and sharing her artistic expertise and technical mastery.
- Rob for designing and printing the 3D stamps and hosting a textile upcycling station on the playground
- Geert Tiersma for logistical, creative, and emotional support throughout the journey and his magic on the runway.
- Loui — the Brazilian non-binary human, who was the executive assistant and wore multiple important hats.
- Yuky & Ayrton — the Korean - Dutch couple, who helped with everything from sourcing materials across the Netherlands to cooking free-style soup for the event participants and the production team.
- Josette for her cretive magic and holding space for empowering conversations between the visitors.
- Maker Days and MAD emergent art center for strategic mentorship.
- Amy Mom for beautifully integrating her concept into the event and capturing magical runway moments.
- DJ Elena for the chill music vibes and cozy ambiance at the lounge.
- Viola van Alphen — the creative director of Manifestations — for her consistent support and encouragement.
- The entire event production team (including those who chose to remain unidentified) — international, interdisciplinary, and independent volunteers, artists, makers, models, and curious souls who joined this adventure.
Play. Create. Connect.