Sharing his gift of making art from trash, and growing a business
Buffalo Flats resident Vivian de Free works as a product analyst by day but his side hustle is where his true passion lies.
De Free makes décor ornaments from recycled materials, which he sells at flea markets.
“As a child I was always the one in the family who had the creative streak, a gift from God. When I was a young man, I did not pay much attention to these talents until four years ago when my relationship with Jesus Christ strengthened.”
De Free gets his material from nearby dumping sites and transforms the trash into works of art.
“The process of using discarded items I randomly pick up from a rubbish dump and turn into beautiful artwork, which I then showcase at flea markets or online platforms for arts and craft, [makes it special]. I have no limit when it comes to recycling. I can use anything from wood, wool, rope, plastic and cardboard to anything I lay my eyes on. I enjoy the challenge.”
There are many resources one can use for making wall décor, but De Free has his personal reasons for why he uses recycled material.
“I recycle to show communities that there is a way to keep your areas neat and clean. Before you discard an item, first see what you can reuse it for. I also had this amazing gift from God, with the excuse if I only had the financial support to buy material, I would be able to create great art pieces, so God showed me rubbish can be your fortune.”
He said it usually takes him half a day per item.
“The first three years I dedicated to making my business known. In the three years, 98% of the time I rendered my service for free, open to the community and also to different churches and congregations. My ambition in my business is to inspire others to also make something from nothing.”
De Free is now working on expanding his business.
“I am currently releasing my latest brand — #lekkebushie —
mooikyk T-shirts and hoodies with the hope I can extend this brand much wider than only Tshirts and hoodies but also different types of clothing, to take this brand high up in the fashion industry,” he said.
De Free used to sell his wares at flea markets, but due to the pandemic, he now uses his Facebook page to generate income. He makes and sells a wide range of pieces including vases, candle holders, bottle art, wagons, ship sculptures, paintings and much more. He can be contacted on 084-973-7518.
As a child I was always the one in the family who had the creative streak