The Threads We Leave Behind…
People arrived carrying scraps of fabric. They left behind memories, hopes, stories and pieces of themselves. The fabric was simply the medium. The real material was human experience. I recently met Laila Meliani, the creator of ‘De Wevers‘ (The Weavers), a community project that invited people to write something meaningful on fabric and weave it into a collective artwork. As I watched people add their contributions, I realised this wasn’t about creating art. It was about creating connections.
Laila came to the Netherlands from Morocco when she was six years old. Today, the Netherlands is home. Listening to her speak, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of her own journey shaped what she was creating for others. Because what unfolded through De Wevers wasn’t just weaving. It was people finding small ways to connect, share and contribute.
When I asked Laila what people were really weaving, she didn’t talk about techniques or materials. She talked about stories. About people laughing together and, sometimes, crying together.
No one needed to be talented.
No one needed to impress anyone.
They simply needed to participate.
We’re so used to environments where value is measured by expertise, achievement or performance.
This was different.
People felt connected because they contributed, not because they proved themselves.
Later, I asked Laila why she works with reused materials. Her answer had little to do with sustainability. After experiencing burnout, she found healing in nature. “Nature wastes nothing,” she told me. What looks worn, discarded or unfinished may still hold value.
Perhaps people are no different.
The finished artwork eventually found its way into Museum Cobra on March 23, 2026.
The strongest cultures aren’t built because everyone thinks alike or follows the same pattern. They’re built when people feel able to bring something of themselves and trust that it matters.
Laila’s project isn’t just a weaving of fabric. It’s a weaving of people. And maybe that’s why it resonated with so many. People felt connected because they contributed, not because they proved themselves.
But what interested me most wasn’t where it ended up. It was seeing how many people were willing to contribute a piece of themselves when given the opportunity. And perhaps that’s true of communities, teams and organisations too.
Jagdeep Kaur is the voice behind TulipTalks, and a learning and leadership development professional with 18+ years of experience across recruitment, entrepreneurship, coaching, leadership development and client advisory. She writes about learning, leadership and cross-cultural experiences, exploring how people can grow, lead and perform without losing their sense of voice and belonging.