Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claudia Middendorf. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Claudia, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

OUR MISSION Mathilde makes unique heirloom linen quilts inspired by a love of discovery. Each quilt is an uncovering of delights; incredible softness, intricate surface details, and delightfully modern designs. The Mathilde mission; We make quilts for the home decor that enriches people’s lives. Our vision; elevating the joy of sleep, enhancing the comfort of soft textiles, and making exceptional handcrafted textiles meant for everyday use that will last generations. We have a high standard for quality, and use exquisite surface patterns inspired by geometry and architecture. Mathilde believes in a sustainable business model that will stand the test of time and will continue a tradition of welcoming all-natural materials into the home.

PHILOSOPHY
These modern linen heirloom quilts are at the intersection of collectible modern craft and utility—not only because they are all unique, but because this allows us to build a strong connection to people and their lives. The feedback we’ve received is extremely positive and once customers tell us about the soothing nature and deep appreciation for these luxurious textiles in their lives, it only inspires us to produce more designs. All quilts are made in the U.S.A. honoring goods made by hand.

We Believe in Sustainability and An Ethos of Harmony and Simplicity:
All craft is intrinsically tied to a way of life and the natural materials of the earth. Mathilde is part of a family of artisans that values comfort, beauty and utility using sustainable materials. Each Mathilde quilt brings these experiences together with the time and thoughtfulness of handmade craft.

Thoughtful Materials and Artful Imperfection:
Taking cues from Wabi Sabi and its artful embrace of imperfection, Mathilde combines modern details with traditional, rustic with sophisticated, and beauty with utility, to enliven and soothe the senses.

The beauty of Mathilde quilts are that they are much more than possessions. The feel of fabric, the arrangement of details, and the contrast of material combinations all present a sensory experience that accompanies a life well lived.

, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

About Claudia: My travels in Latin America and Europe lifted my appreciation for textiles and its traditions. Quality and connection came to life when I encountered hand woven textiles in Guatemala, exquisite French embroideries, and the pleasure of sleeping under a down comforter in Zurich. Textiles invite interaction, and in these moments I saw and felt the balance between simplicity and design ingenuity. These impressions remained with me and evolved into the heirloom linen quilts I design today. The color palettes developed are full of rich neutrals, vivid color combinations with contrasting stitching and binding. The subdued palettes focuses on texture alone and the ripples that it creates from years of use and washings.

Trained as a graphic designer, I often felt that my true calling was in designing quilts and I was motivated to learn what about textiles had kept me interested in them since growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area. I dedicated myself to learning about quilts a few years after I had completed the graduate program at Rhode Island School of Design. It was a visit to the RISD library that inspired me to make the simple, textural quilts that I produce today.

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At Mathilde, we curate our textured quilts that are meant to be used every day. We are currently expanding our assortment into other everyday products such as decorative pillows, napkins, and bread bags–all made in European linen and American sourced cotton.

We strongly believe in the transformative power of design and how textiles can alter one’s interiors and result in a more harmonious living space. Comfort is such an important aspect in making Mathilde goods. The idea of slowing down and taking a look at our living spaces to see how we related to our belongings is one of the most challenging yet satisfying endeavors to creating a beautiful home environment.

“It’s no surprise that wherever we are in the world, sleeping under a quilt will always evoke that sense of ease, rest, and simple pleasure of being home among our favorite things. ~Mathilde.”

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I have always been interested in design and in the joy of making. I’ve often been drawn to textiles. My great grandmother was a seamstress in Canada and my grandmother often crocheted afghans for our family. However, I was trained as a graphic designer yet a good 15 years into my career I wanted to try making something for the home that could be used every day. I started making prototypes and when I found a way to work with linen and make heirloom quilts, I was hooked! I started making a few more samples and then started researching artisanal markets that matched the clientele I was looking for. As a RISD alum, I was lucky to participate in the two alumni sales that coincide with commencement and parent’s weekend. After about 3 years of getting feedback about my quilts, handing out postcards and schlepping my quilts to sales, I was still eager to make. I balanced working my full-time job and worked nights and weekends trying to keep up the pace on orders. Then, Covid hit, and I was one of the first to be let go from the company where I had worked for over 3 years. I tried to look for the same graphic design work but I wasn’t finding any jobs. My “big break” came when a representative from Martha Stewart wanted to feature Mathilde quilts in their monthly “American Made” profile in the magazine. I was blown away by the outpouring of support and interest in what I was passionate about. I kept planning for more maker’s markets once folks were allowed to attend in-person events. As a planner by nature, I enrolled in a business class through a non-profit and learned about how to run a business. To this day, I still have to pinch myself that I’m running my own business! It’s definitely challenging but I take great pride in what I do and the people I’ve met who are also pursuing their passion.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Manufacturing is one of the most challenging aspects to what I do. We are often looking for how we can streamline production, how we can create interesting products and how we can bring them to market. As a small business looking to grow, I depend on other small businesses for information and referrals. This has been invaluable since other small companies are faced with reaching minimums, calculating margins and looking at shipping costs which often affect how we service our clientele. As a company, we believe in local manufacturing but we are looking at options that let us work with other manufacturing in other parts of the United States. Some of the lessons I’ve learned are that there are manufacturers willing to look at creative ways to help small businesses but one has to keep connecting and keep asking questions about what innovations and creative solutions that might work for small businesses.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mathildehome.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathildehome/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MathildeHomeUSA
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/middendorf-claudia/
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/claudia_middendorf/

Image Credits
Paul T. Warner Photography