An Interview with John Orchard, a 'Festival of Thrifter'

 A few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to interview John Orchard 

( http://www.marchday.com/people/john-orchard/ ), a director of Marchday, the owners of Lingfield Point and co-founder of Festival of Thrift. 

So I thought long and hard about the questions, which ones would provoke great answers...and get in to the mind of a 'festival of thrifter'. 

Now I'll be honest, I don't agree 100% with every answer he gave, and that's the beauty of Thrift, we all do it in a way that suits us and our families. 

Hello John and thank you for your time to answer a few questions-

•How is thrift important in your life, and how does this influence your day to day living?

"Like most people I try not to be profligate. My Mum grew up during the war and her habits have influenced me."

•Have you seen a change in the consumer habits of your friends and family?

"I think people are moving away from mass production and mass consumerism. We’ve got chickens, we bake our bread and there’s lots of people doing that sort of thing again."

•How much impact has the recession had on the Interest in thrift? And do you think the Festival would have been so successful in a different economic climate?

"I think the recession has made Thrift a necessity for a lot of people but it's put it on everyone's agenda. At the same time the festival struck a chord with a younger generation who love stuff that's handmade, remade and unique."

•Do you think thrift is mainly focussing on past generations experiences or have we developed our own modern thrift culture?

"A lot of stuff that was commonplace to my Mum's generation has been lost to younger generations, things like knitting, making and cooking - so to lots of younger people all this stuff is new."

•What impact do you think the Festival of Thrift has had on the culture and perception of the North East/Darlington?

"It feels like an authentic home for the festival. Hopefully it’s another thing that will reinforce the region’s cool image."

•Do you think technology and our cultural hunger for 'new' will have an impact in how we approach thrift in the future? 

"I think society is pulling in two directions; those who want more and want it cheap and those who say ‘I have enough, this (rampant consumerism) can’t go on for ever’."

•How do you see thrift culture  shaping the future of Lingfield Point?

"It already has! We haven’t built a new building. All our spaces are created by recycling existing spaces."

•My family are experimenting with a 'Year of Thrift' for 2014, how do you think you and your family would approach a Year of Thrift and what impact would it have on your life?

"I’d be surrounded by unhappy children! (they’re a bit young to get the concept of Thrift.)"

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Working out of my studio on Lingfield point, I see everyday the innovatiion and enthusiasm that Marchday and John have injected into an industrial landscape and the lives of thoses who work there. 

Thrift culture for me can be looked at in the same way as recycling was 10/15 years ago.

 If we teach the new generation of children to be thrifty, by perhaps shopping local, thinking about each purchase and not shopping for the sake of just buying, by teaching them that small changes can have a huge impact over all and we can be the ones to change, it has to begin somewhere!....And it can begin with you! Thrift isn't about cheap or skrimping, I see it as value for money, local businesses and supporting sustainabilty.

If anyone else has their own opinions I would be so happy to hear, to stop the mass consumerism that our society adopted as a way of life.

The festival is back this year, bigger and better and I for one will be there, I can't wait!