Festival of Thrift began in 2013 when Hemingway Design and developer John Orchard met at a Darlington industrial site and dreamed up a celebration of culture, sustainability and style. With Creative Director Stella Hall at the helm, thousands came—and the shift to thrift began!
Now, over a decade on, 50,000 people join us every September. The faces may have changed, but our ethos remains the same.
Northern Roots
What makes us special is our very strong Northern identity. We were born in Darlington but having moved to Redcar and now onto Billingham, we are growing up in the Tees Valley. We represent everyday folk and encourage change in affordable realistic ways.
FUTURE HOPE
The festival is about celebration and joy. We have a serious message at our heart but we are with the world and want to leave it a better place than we found it! We believe in consuming thoughtfully and ethically and our actions should benefit not harm the planet.
THRIFT WITH STYLE
When you come to the festival you will be inspired by many things, artists, workshops, exhibitions, performances, ethical shopping. Everything you experience with us is valuable, thoughtful and fun. Together we can save the planet and do it with style.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
As individuals can make those small changes, the shift to thrift, that will add up to a big difference for the future of our planet, and encouraging others to join in. Every penny we raise goes back into our work and increasing the number of people we can engage with. Donations can help us do more with more people so please give what you can.
