On September 3 and 4, the 17th-century Molen van West becomes the stage for the launch of Patience, part of the official AFW 2025 program. Founded by Borre Akkersdijk, Menno Drontmann, and Esmée van den Boom, Patience is built on the belief that meaningful work takes time. With Patience Practices, the collective introduces a two-day program that explores how intention, rather than urgency, can shape the way we create, collaborate, and share.
Building on Borre Akkersdijk’s pioneering work in the textile industry and his role as founder of BYBORRE, Patience takes shape as a playground where materials connect across texture, taste, sound, and scent. Set within the mill’s historic beams and joints, the program brings together voices from across industries and unveils its first products: works-in-progress that emphasise evolving collaborations over finished outcomes.
Dialogues with Patience – September 4
On Wednesday, September 4, Patience opens a day of talks and exchanges under the title Dialogues with Patience:
10:00 – 11:00 | Keynote by Sadira E. Furlow, CMO at Tony’s Chocolonely, on radical transparency and creativity as tools for change.
11:00 – 12:00 | Panel Talk with Sadira E. Furlow (Tony’s Chocolonely), Trix van der Vleuten (The Social Hub), and Mijke van Ballegooijen. Moderated by Dymphie Braun, the discussion centers on defying convention and reimagining responsibility.
13:00 – 19:00 | Patience Practices: live explorations with Ojas by Devon Turnbull, Lateef by Tom Trago and Marc Meijer, and a scent experience guided by Barnabé Fillion.
The day offers a collective reflection on how industries can move forward by slowing down, and how collaboration across disciplines can redefine cultural production.
Practical Information
Molen van West, Gillis van Ledenberchstraat 78, 1052 VK Amsterdam
September 4, 10:00 – 19:00
RSVP here for Dialogues with Patience
About Patience
Patience is an initiative that chooses depth over noise, care over speed, and continuity over quick wins. Through an intuitive and deliberate approach, Patience cultivates ideas, products, and partnerships that endure. What you understand, you value. What you value, you keep. What you keep, shapes culture.