Vermeer Recycle

From Flags to Fashion

In 2023, three photographs from my Girls with Pearls series were displayed at more than 60 locations across the historic city center of Delft, as part of the campaign Discover Vermeer’s Delft by Delft Marketing. The images appeared as flags and banners throughout the city, receiving an unexpectedly warm and enthusiastic response.
This inspired me to give the flag material a second life. Together with six talented fashion designers - Barbara Termorshuizen, Lii Spijkers, Lily Edney, Marco-Stefano Pintus, Marieke Rolloos, and Stephanie Willems - the fabric was recycled into unique fashion pieces. I then photographed these designs at beautiful locations in Delft, drawing inspiration from Vermeer’s paintings, his distinctive use of light, and his timeless storytelling.
This process evolved into the exhibition Vermeer Recycle, where my photographs and the designs came together in the historic city of Delft. The project highlights how heritage, innovation, and sustainability can strengthen one another through creative reuse.
“Vermeer’s storytelling translated into the present. A celebration of light, colour, and circular creativity.”
- Herman Weijers, Director, Vermeer Center Delft