Indiana Jones has nothing on me. I am a treasure hunter who will stop at nothing to get my hands on the ultimate prize. Fortunately for me, the ultimate prize is a lurid Belgian pro team cycling jersey. Ideally from the 1990s, with multiple clashing colors, emblazoned with the name of a long-defunct tractor-part wholesaler, a random car dealership on the Kortrijk ring road, and a dodgy café belonging to the team manager’s uncle. Or something like that. The Gen Z solution would be to search Belgian eBay. A much more fun option is to become a Kringer.
Kringwinkel is a federation of 130 thrift stores across Flanders, easily spotted by their orange signs, which has been gradually expanding over the last 30 years. From a few scattered recycling centers, a circular economy began to take shape. Today, Kringwinkel Groep employs more than 6,000 people, many of whom once struggled to get a job in the mainstream economy, and it contributes a significant CO2 saving to Flemish society. Kringwinkel stores are not-for-profit social enterprises, with all proceeds reinvested in the business to provide job opportunities for the community.
THE FULL STORY IN PRINT
