JANINA VAN DER DRIFT

FOUNDER OF KALVERLIEFDE

Inspiring Women is an ode to women who write their own stories every day; women brimming with personality, passion and style. We put a few of these strong women in the spotlight every season, sharing their inspiring stories, what drives them and their favourite Xandres pieces. This time, the topic is ‘motherhood’ and all the aspects that come with it.

Janina turned her life around for the love of animals. Read on to find out why she did so, how she combines entrepreneurship and being a mum, and what her favourite Xandres looks are!

#xandreswomen

DOING BUSINESS FROM THE HEART

When something affects you, you have two options: resign yourself to it and move on, or take action. Animal lover Janina chose the latter, drastically changing her life in the process. Uncomfortable with the fact that calves are often separated from their mothers after birth, she decided to only buy milk from farmers who do things differently and work with them. She founded Kalverliefde: organic calf-with-cow milk.

At Xandres, we find Janina's selflessness in doing so, daring to think from her heart and the desire to make a difference incredibly inspiring. We are not the only ones: Janina and Kalverliefde were awarded the Delta Plan Livestock Farming Award by the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals earlier this year. Impressive!

COUCH TALK WITH JANINA

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR KALVERLIEFDE?

“I don't have an agricultural background, but I am a huge animal lover. It broke my heart to discover that the calf a cow must have each year for milk production is separated from its mother immediately after birth. The concrete idea was born after I visited a farm with my two daughters, and they wanted to see the calves. I preferred to wait outside because I couldn't stand to see the little animals alone in a cage. I found myself hypocritical for still drinking milk. I decided I had to do something. I started looking for farmers who keep the calf with the cow, to buy my milk there. Those people do it completely selflessly, and that's wonderful. I later had the idea of spreading that and doing something myself. In collaboration with those farmers, I founded Kalverliefde, and the milk is now on sale in almost 300 Dutch Albert Heijn stores. Even Belgian fans travel long distances to stock up and freeze the milk.” (laughs)

AS AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO ALSO HAS A FAMILY, HOW DO YOU JUGGLE EVERYTHING?

“I am really busy with the start-up, but I can also work from home a lot. I love that I can get my daughters involved in the whole process of Kalverliefde. They understand the concept very well—that animals belong with their mothers, just as they do. I sometimes have to force myself to let it all go and be ‘just mum’ for a bit. When I decide to spend the day with my daughters, I give them my full attention, too. When they come to the farm with me, they understand that I have to divide my time between them and my work.” 

WHAT TYPIFIES YOU AS A MUM?

“When my daughters were born, I realised that there is only one place where you truly make a difference and are indispensable: at home. It has made me more grounded. I am an active mother and love doing things with my children, showing them a bit of life and the world. Going into town, to the farm, spending time in nature, eating out, shopping or soaking up culture: I want to give them as many different experiences as possible. I am also not a control freak; I try to allow them a lot of freedom and support them when needed. I want my children to find peace with me.”

DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR OUR #XANDRESWOMEN?

“Listen to your heart. If I had only listened to my head, Kalverliefde would never have existed. I left a very good job in marketing, purely for the love of animals. It was a matter of ‘now or never’, and I took the plunge. I had to change my life drastically, but I get so much energy out of it that everything I had to give up was entirely worth it.” 

Learn more about Kalverliefde at www.kalver-liefde.nl or on Instagram @kalverliefdezuivel.

WATCH THE VIDEO

JANINA'S SELECTION
3 MOMENTS, 3 XANDRES LOOKS

BUSINESSLOOK

“I wouldn’t say I like wearing a suit, but I like the power it exudes. I wanted a casual alternative that would suit me better. I love the sleeveless blazer look, and the sleeveless crochet top adds a playful touch to the stylish ensemble. ”

DAY-TO-DAY

“I prefer to spend my free time in nature. Walking with my dog, horse riding, being outside: that's how I fully recharge. Comfortable jeans and a linen shirt dress give me freedom of movement without sacrificing style!”

SHOP JANINA'S FAVOURITES



JANINA VAN DER DRIFT

FOUNDER OF KALVERLIEFDE 

Inspiring Women is an ode to women who write their own stories every day; women brimming with personality, passion and style. This time, the topic is ‘motherhood’ and all the aspects that come with it. Janina turned her life around for the love of animals. Read on to find out why she did so, how she combines entrepreneurship and being a mum, and what her favourite Xandres looks are!

#xandreswomen

DOING BUSINESS FROM THE HEART

When something affects you, you have two options: resign yourself to it and move on, or take action. Animal lover Janina chose the latter, drastically changing her life in the process. Uncomfortable with the fact that calves are often separated from their mothers after birth, she decided to only buy milk from farmers who do things differently and work with them. She founded Kalverliefde: organic calf-with-cow milk.

At Xandres, we find Janina's selflessness in doing so, daring to think from her heart and the desire to make a difference incredibly inspiring. We are not the only ones: Janina and Kalverliefde were awarded the Delta Plan Livestock Farming Award by the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals earlier this year. Impressive!

COUCH TALK
WITH JANINA

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR KALVERLIEFDE?

“I don't have an agricultural background, but I am a huge animal lover. It broke my heart to discover that the calf a cow must have each year for milk production is separated from its mother immediately after birth. The concrete idea was born after I visited a farm with my two daughters, and they wanted to see the calves. I preferred to wait outside because I couldn't stand to see the little animals alone in a cage. I found myself hypocritical for still drinking milk. I decided I had to do something. I started looking for farmers who keep the calf with the cow, to buy my milk there. Those people do it completely selflessly, and that's wonderful. I later had the idea of spreading that and doing something myself. In collaboration with those farmers, I founded Kalverliefde, and the milk is now on sale in almost 300 Dutch Albert Heijn stores. Even Belgian fans travel long distances to stock up and freeze the milk.” (laughs)

AS AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO ALSO HAS A FAMILY, HOW DO YOU JUGGLE EVERYTHING?

“I am really busy with the start-up, but I can also work from home a lot. I love that I can get my daughters involved in the whole process of Kalverliefde. They understand the concept very well—that animals belong with their mothers, just as they do. I sometimes have to force myself to let it all go and be ‘just mum’ for a bit. When I decide to spend the day with my daughters, I give them my full attention, too. When they come to the farm with me, they understand that I have to divide my time between them and my work.” 

WHAT TYPIFIES YOU AS A MUM?

“When my daughters were born, I realised that there is only one place where you truly make a difference and are indispensable: at home. It has made me more grounded. I am an active mother and love doing things with my children, showing them a bit of life and the world. Going into town, to the farm, spending time in nature, eating out, shopping or soaking up culture: I want to give them as many different experiences as possible. I am also not a control freak; I try to allow them a lot of freedom and support them when needed. I want my children to find peace with me.” 

DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR OUR #XANDRESWOMEN?

“Listen to your heart. If I had only listened to my head, Kalverliefde would never have existed. I left a very good job in marketing, purely for the love of animals. It was a matter of ‘now or never’, and I took the plunge. I had to change my life drastically, but I get so much energy out of it that everything I had to give up was entirely worth it.” 

Read more about Kalverliefde at www.kalver-liefde.nl or on Instagram @kalverliefdezuivel.

SHOP JANINA’S FAVOURITES