All Aboard! Taking the slow route with Jaharn Quinn and Eurail

Jaharn travelled to France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands with Eurail (a rail Pass for unlimited travel across 33 European countries) in November 2025 to uncover slow design trends in Europe, and to experience firsthand the intersection of slow travel x slow design (and having a complete ‘slow mindset’ both at home and abroad). Here, Jaharn shares her personal journey towards sustainable slow living, and the grand adventure of hopping on a train and going exploring.

Hi Jaharn! Why is sustainable slow living (and slow design!) important to you? And how did your journey start?

My journey toward sustainable slow living, and especially slow design, began quietly, almost unintentionally in high school. It began as a way for me to express myself creatively but also because I didn’t have the money to buy new clothes like my friends did. So, I would always thrift and upcycle my clothing from a very young age, which ultimately led me to starting my successful online vintage clothing store, called Vintage Lover. I ran this for a few years while also dabbling in furniture upcycling on a more personal level. I’m completely self-taught and thrifting and upcycling has always been in my DNA – I guess you can say I’m naturally pulled towards anything second-hand! These days I use my platform as a place to come up with creative projects using unexpected materials to inspire other people to start living a more sustainable lifestyle. I’ve created my own Power Tool Course, teaching and empowering thousands of people around the world, and I have just written a book about thrifting and upcycling, Dream Home DIY.

What does slow travel, and having a complete slow mindset, mean to you?

Having a slow mindset has always been something I’ve leaned into when it comes to travel. Whenever I go overseas or on a holiday, I try to upcycle a few pieces rather than buying something new. It’s my way of grounding the experience of a place in creativity rather than consumption. Those small acts of adding a stitch, altering a hem and reimagining a familiar piece helps me stay present, curious, and conscious of my footprint.

What drew you to partner with Eurail on your Grand European Adventure?

Eurail is an iconic, globally recognised brand with an incredible reputation for providing easy, reliable, safe and flexible train travel across Europe. I used a Eurail Pass when I was travelling around Europe in my 20s and 30s, and was excited to be given the opportunity to work with them in 2025.

You travelled through France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands – can you share some details?

My trip with Eurail started in Lyon, where I spent the day walking around the city, letting curiosity be my guide and discovering thrift stores and a slow café. I started at La Pure Secondhand and stumbled across a slow café called Mot Chut, where I was very lucky to meet the owner Laurene, who kindly recommended I visit two of her favourite locally loved charity shops, Fourbie and Pieds Compas. Both of which I would never have known about had I not shared a wonderful conversation with her about her café, her story, and our mutual love of secondhand and sustainability.

Following this I travelled to Basel in Switzerland by train using my Eurail Pass, via a gorgeous walking tour of Mulhouse, where I learnt about the local history and slow-food movement. When I arrived in Basel, I hopped over the border into Germany to the Vitra Design Museum and experienced a private, money-can’t-buy tour with Michael Bainbridge of Vitra Circle. This was an incredible experience where I got to learn about the history of Vitra, the Shaudepot, Vitra Circle, VitraHaus and lots more. I ended up loving Vitra so much that after our late-afternoon private tour, I decided to go back the following day to take my time and explore everything on offer.

I also experienced my first Ukrainian meal at Kozak Buvette. It was the first time on the trip that the food I was eating made me feel like home, like I was being wrapped up in a warm hug. It’s run by Ukrainian women refugees, and it was very humbling listening to their stories of strength, bravery and resilience. I’ll never forget it; it’s a memory I’ll always cherish.

After staying in Basel for two nights, I used my Eurail Pass to jump on a train and stopped into Freiburg im Breisgau where I went on another beautiful walking tour. I fell madly in love with the local market and sampled lots of local produce, as well as baked goods, cheese and wine.

Then it was time for my next train to Cologne in Germany. The next day I went on a sustainability-inspired eBike tour around the city, which was incredible! We met a shoemaker, dropped into a suburban mushroom farm and a thrift store, as well as a sustainable jewellery store. I had never ridden an eBike before and was honestly not that interested in them but that was until I actually got to experience one for the day and get to understand why people love them so much in Europe. In Australia, we ride our bicycles for exercise. We wouldn’t typically ride them to get to and from places because our roads aren’t as well designed for them. However, it was fascinating to see how much they exist as a part of everyday life in Europe as a more affordable, quicker and sustainable mode of transport to get you and your family from A to B. They’re fantastic and I’m excited to look into getting one here in Australia to limit how often I use my car for small trips, like going down the road to do our weekly fruit shop. An eBike would be a much better alternative!

The following day, I travelled to Utrecht in the Netherlands, where I was able to spend a few nights and explore this gorgeous town and discover a plethora of vintage stores! I also experienced a memorable meal at Heron Petit Restaurant. There were so many vintage stores and I had an incredible afternoon shopping like a local. I had some extra time in Utrecht, so I spent the following two days exploring Amsterdam (a short 30-minute train ride from Utrecht) and all it had to offer – thrift stores, great cafés, museums… I also went to IJ Hallen, which is the largest flea market in Europe. And I had the incredible opportunity to meet with Georgia of The Swapshop LAB to chat all things second-hand and sustainability, and learn about her Amsterdam shop and what initiatives they are driving for their local community.

I was invited to speak at Eurail’s Slow Travel Supper event with local influencers who also have a keen interest in slow travel and sustainability. It was a wonderful evening being able to speak with a lot of people from different backgrounds and come together to chat about what inspires us the most. The food was a standout as was the conversation and company. It was an honour to be able to share my story and discuss the differences between what Europe is doing about sustainability versus what Australia is doing.

Something I noticed about train travel throughout Europe is that it was so relaxing and easy and convenient that I never wanted to get off the train! I could have spent hours upon hours looking out the window, speaking with other travellers, relaxing and catching up on a bit of work or reading. It’s such a great way to travel!

In your experience, how do Europeans embrace slow design differently to Australians?

Europe has thousands of years of heritage and culture, so it’s not surprising they are world-leaders in sustainable, slow design. They seem more motivated to make a difference, both from a personal and professional perspective. Businesses provide their staff with lots more initiatives, and the support people in France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands get from their local governments is fantastic.

What key slow design learning or idea from the trip will you bring back to Australia?

For a long time I’ve felt that the traditional vintage store layout needs to change, and I saw that at Enso and Ume in Amsterdam. Traditionally, a vintage store will either (and/or) accept donations or source pieces for their store as is. But Enso and Ume are taking it a step further. Their pieces are highly curated, thoughtful, on-trend and of the utmost quality. But they are also upcycling and redesigning secondhand clothing, giving them a completely new lease on life. I also love that on the price tags at Enso for all their upcycled pieces, they will tell you how many hours their tailors worked on a piece, therefore educating the customer on why a garment is priced the way it is. It’s fantastic!

Europe has thousands of years of heritage and culture, so it’s not surprising they are world-leaders in sustainable, slow design. They seem more motivated to make a difference, both from a personal and professional perspective.

What are your top tips for others considering a slow travel rail journey across Europe?

I have a few!

• Mix well-known cities with lesser known so you have a rich tapestry of experiences
• Let curiosity be your guide by exploring those in-between places and getting off the train, storing your luggage in a locker, and going for a wander. Eurail’s network of trains run very frequently in Europe, so you’ll always be able to hop on the next train without a long wait.
• Talk to locals, find out their favourite thrift stores, antique shops and places to eat, then go and visit a few!
• Our lives are already busy enough, so travel should be about slowing down, being open to what pops up, living in the moment and saying yes to those unexpected experiences
• Your itinerary shouldn’t be overflowing or too structured. Remember, travelling is all about those in-between moments of unexpected discovery and spontaneity. Slow down, be present, put your camera and phones down, and take it all in.

What slow travel journey would you love to do next?

I’d love to take my kids on a trip through Europe, where we fly in and for two weeks and travel between multiple countries and cities, using our Eurail Passes. Kids under 12 travel for free with Eurail, so that’s a huge bonus! Plus, the fact that we don’t have to deal with airports, flights, car hire and driving on the other side of the road? Fantastic!