Activist writing and paper making session

Overview:

What if you could turn your old clothes into a message for change?

In this hands-on workshop, you are invited to engage with the environmental and social issues of the fast fashion industry by making paper from their own discarded clothing. Using the old technique of papermaking—shredding, blending, pressing, and drying—you’ll transform textile waste into handmade stationery.

The workshop opens with a brief dialogue on the social and environmental costs of fast fashion, followed by hands-on papermaking and letter-writing to fashion brands, demanding accountability and transparency. This is your chance to slow down, reflect, and take action—one sheet at a time.

Worn Words is a moment of collective activism, where slow making becomes a way to speak out to fast overproduction. Join us to craft, connect, and challenge the fashion system from the inside out. A movement—one sheet at a time.

This session is part of the Fresh Grounds exhibition at Foundation we are.

The Community Square bar will be open for coffee and more.

Important: The ticket price for the session is 10€. The ticket can be bought on site, before the session starts.

Lara van der Poel (Initiator / Host)

Recent design graduate Lara van der Poel, is a socially engaged designer who views her work as a facilitator of ideas and connections. For Lara, design extends beyond aesthetics, serving as a tool for social change. Her process involves exploring disciplines such as theatre, research, fashion, and innovative materials to craft meaningful narratives. With her latest graduation work she built connections between different street communities in Eindhoven. In addition to her other graduation project Worn Words: she uses an interactive installation to highlight the sustainability challenges of the fashion industry, inviting participants to reflect and advocate for systemic improvements.

Want to learn more about Lara van der Poel and the Worn Words project? Visit the Worn Letters website, or follow up on Instagram or via mail (info@lariari.nl).

Foundation we are (Hosting venue)

Foundation We Are was established in 2018 to enable, facilitate, and explore collaborations between the creative sector and experts working on societal transitions. By bringing designers and experts together, we create space for shared research, experimentation, and the development of creative responses to today’s most pressing challenges.

Currently on display, the Fresh Grounds exhibition features the Worn Words project alongside works by four other Eindhoven-based designers. Each explores pressing social challenges shaping our city. The exhibition runs through September 14th, 2025.

Curious to learn more? Visit the website, LinkedIn, or Instagram for more information.