DARE TO RE:PLAY Session 1: Welcome to the Textile Lab

Last Friday, July 4th, something rare happened.

Inside a sunlit textile lab overlooking a church in the center of Eindhoven, a group of strangers came together for the first official session of the DARE TO RE:PLAY summer program.

The vibe? A mix of lab, playground, classroom, and museum.

The purpose? To kick off a summer-long adventure of learning, building, experimenting, connecting—and creating something real with lasting impact.

On September 27–28, we're joining the Future Parade during Maker Days as a team of independent creators and innovators, and showing what happens when passionate people of different ages, backgrounds, skill levels, and interests become a part of a supportive ecosystem in pursuit of personal and professional growth through creative exploration and community connection.

DARE TO RE:PLAY is a summer-long creative empowerment and community connection program backed by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, as part of their MDT (maatschappelijke diensttijd) initiative—a national program to empower young people between 12 and 30 to grow personally, professionally, and contribute to society.

But we’re doing things differently.

We’ve built a model where everyone is welcome. All ages. All skill levels. All walks of life. And it’s 100% free to participate.

• Access to 4 dedicated creative labs in Eindhoven (Textile, Trash, Tech, and Music)

• Guidance from mentors and experts across disciplines

• Tools, materials, and facilities to bring your ideas to life

• A chance to be featured during The Future Parade at Maker Days

• If you’re between 12 - 30 years old (or want to collaborate with someone who is) - you may qualify to receive financial support to bring your creative vision to reality

Whether you're a visual artist, dancer, coder, fashion hacker, DIY genius, music-maker, upcycler, movement-lover, or just wildly curious about new ways to explore your creativity and make an impact – this is your entry point.

This is for you if:

• You want to level up personally and professionally

• You want to collaborate on a real creative project

• You want to be part of a like-minded community that values experimentation, skill-building, and contribution

• You speak a creative language—or want to learn one—and want a space to apply it in real life

• You want to work on your own idea or contribute to someone else's

The next session is Friday, July 11, from 13:00–16:00 at the Textile Lab in Eindhoven. We’ll explore...coffee as an unexpected medium for sustainable creativity and upcycling.

We'll dive into the surprisingly creative world of coffee waste with design innovator and educator Jamie van Duuren. A graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven and a passionate advocate for upcycling, Jamie will take you down the rabbit hole of material transformation — showing how something as ordinary as used coffee grounds can become the base for extraordinary creations.

In this hands-on and mind-expanding session, you will discover how to turn natural waste materials into beautiful, functional, and playful objects — from flower pots and ornaments to game pieces and decorative items.

Whether you’re a curious beginner or an experienced maker, Jamie’s accessible approach will inspire you to see everyday waste in a whole new light.

Expect practical tips, unexpected ideas, and a fresh perspective on sustainability, creativity, and circular design. This is not just a demo — it’s an invitation to get your hands dirty (with coffee!) and explore the creative power of trash.