Inspiring women - Dorien Draps
DORIEN DRAPS
FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF OP WANDEL
Meet Dorien Draps, a 29-year-old nomad at heart from Leuven who challenged Covid-19 in 2020 with her hiking microbe. She calls it more of a medicine, for the pace at which life rushes by. To inject others with this passion, she founded 'Op Wandel': a blog, podcast, webshop and online hiking academy with video courses for hiking.
We meet Dorien in her cosy cabin surrounded by nature, where she escapes the rat race of busy city life.
SHOP DORIEN'S FAVOURITES
‘HIKING GIVES ME PEACE AND ENERGY AT THE SAME TIME. IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN NATURE, YOU REALISE HOW SMALL YOU ARE AND GET CLOSEST TO YOUR CORE. THERE YOU ARE JUST A HUMAN BEING.’
- Dorien
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
What does the ideal outfit look like for someone who almost exclusively wears hiking clothes? ‘I always go for a look that balances my sporty and feminine sides,’ says Dorien. ‘Casual, a little tough and preferably in neutral tones, but in a silhouette that shows off my figure.’
The realisation that she was not made for an office job came to Dorien from a clear need to slow down. ‘After graduation, I wanted to pursue a career, and I was soon sitting at my desk from morning to night. But that was not the life I wanted. Breaking free from society’s expectations is hard, but I felt a kind of powerful urge to follow my own path,’ she says.
‘NOTHING IS AS CHANGEABLE AS A HUMAN LIFE. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADAPT TO SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE YOU TO DEVIATE FROM YOUR PATH, BUT AS LONG AS YOU FEEL YOU ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YOU’RE FINE.’
- Dorien
SPILLING THE TEA
MORNING ROUTINE: ‘In an ideal scenario, I make tea, walk with my puppy Sierra, write in my journal and then have a leisurely breakfast.’
GUILTY PLEASURE: ‘The Kardashians!’
AN INCORRECT ASSUMPTION ABOUT YOU: ‘Because I started as an influencer, many people have a kind of dream image of me. I do not hike 24/7, I spend a lot of time on my laptop too. Op Wandel is a business that encompasses a lot, and I put a lot of work and energy into it.’
KEY CHARACTERISTIC: ‘I am somewhat introverted, and when my social battery is empty, it is really empty. Then I need to be alone for a while to recharge. So, if you notice that I’m getting quieter, it’s not because I'm not angry.’
With the 2024 Olympics approaching, Xandres pays tribute to leading women in the world of sport this season, highlighting their personalities, style and inspiring stories.
DORIEN DRAPS
FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF OP WANDEL
Meet Dorien Draps, a 29-year-old nomad at heart from Leuven who challenged Covid-19 in 2020 with her hiking microbe. She calls it more of a medicine, for the pace at which life rushes by. To inject others with this passion, she founded 'Op Wandel': a blog, podcast, webshop and online hiking academy with video courses for hiking.
We meet Dorien in her cosy cabin surrounded by nature, where she escapes the rat race of busy city life.
SHOP DORIEN'S FAVOURITES
‘HIKING GIVES ME PEACE AND ENERGY AT THE SAME TIME. IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN NATURE, YOU REALISE HOW SMALL YOU ARE AND GET CLOSEST TO YOUR CORE. THERE YOU ARE JUST A HUMAN BEING.’
- Dorien
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
DORIEN’S SELECTION
3 MOMENTS, 3 XANDRES LOOKS
What does the ideal outfit look like for someone who almost exclusively wears hiking clothes? ‘I always go for a look that balances my sporty and feminine sides,’ says Dorien. ‘Casual, a little tough and preferably in neutral tones, but in a silhouette that shows off my figure.’
The realisation that she was not made for an office job came to Dorien from a clear need to slow down. ‘After graduation, I wanted to pursue a career, and I was soon sitting at my desk from morning to night. But that was not the life I wanted. Breaking free from society’s expectations is hard, but I felt a kind of powerful urge to follow my own path,’ she says.
‘NOTHING IS AS CHANGEABLE AS A HUMAN LIFE. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY ADAPT TO SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE YOU TO DEVIATE FROM YOUR PATH, BUT AS LONG AS YOU FEEL YOU ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, YOU’RE FINE.’
- Dorien
SPILLING THE TEA
MORNING ROUTINE: ‘In an ideal scenario, I make tea, walk with my puppy Sierra, write in my journal and then have a leisurely breakfast.’
GUILTY PLEASURE: ‘The Kardashians!’
AN INCORRECT ASSUMPTION ABOUT YOU: ‘Because I started as an influencer, many people have a kind of dream image of me. I do not hike 24/7, I spend a lot of time on my laptop too. Op Wandel is a business that encompasses a lot, and I put a lot of work and energy into it.’
KEY CHARACTERISTIC: ‘I am somewhat introverted, and when my social battery is empty, it is really empty. Then I need to be alone for a while to recharge. So, if you notice that I’m getting quieter, it’s not because I'm not angry.’
With the 2024 Olympics approaching, Xandres pays tribute to leading women in the world of sport this season, highlighting their personalities, style and inspiring stories.