Siska Paridaens
My name is Siska Paridaens, and I’ve been fascinated by nature for as long as I can remember. Even today, I spend most of my free time outdoors. During the week I work as a secondary school teacher, but on weekends you can often find me wandering through the forest.
I began tanning when my father started keeping a flock of sheep. When the animals were eventually slaughtered, the hides were left unused — something that felt wasteful to me. That’s when I reached out to Klaus. His tanning journey had started long before mine, and I have learned so much from him. Thanks to his guidance, I continue to grow in this beautiful craft every single day.
Tanning is meaningful to me because it connects me to who we once were as humans and brings me closer to the animals themselves. I also process the wool from our own flock, honoring every part of these wonderful creatures.
Sheep are amazing, and through my work I hope to carry forward not only their story, but also our story as humans: a story of craft, relationship, and continuity through time.
Siska speaks are in English & Dutch.
Instagram: @par.siska