Seeking

Seeking
comfort at home and finding new pleasure in the
simplicity of things, Acne Studios alum and founder of Tekla Fabrics,
Charlie Hedin is all about quiet luxuries. Established in
Copenhagen, Denmark in 2017, Tekla embraces simple and
functional living, forgoing trendy must-haves for elevated staples
that will last a lifetime.

It prides itself on creating high-quality textiles – think
modern, minimalist sheets and blankets in subtle colourways,
luxurious towels and chunky striped bathrobes – that are organic,
chemical-free and made to last. Hedin’s background in sailing (he
was a member of Sweden’s youth national sailing team) may be
partially responsible for that. “Sailing has forced me to
acknowledge the fact that everything needs to be functional,” he
says. “A towel should get you dry. A blanket should warm you up.
Simple things like that.”

Here, we discuss the importance of eco-credentials, Portuguese
craftmanship, Nordic design sensibility and his latest
collaboration, Sacred Places, a photo book by Philip Messmann.

Brand:

Tekla Fabrics

Designer:

Charlie Hedin

Origins:

Denmark

Homebase:

Denmark

Type of brand:

Home textiles

How does the name Tekla connect with your brand?

I was in a national sailing team when I was a kid and I called
all my boats Tekla, so that’s where the name came from.

Define Tekla’s aesthetic…

Tekla’s aesthetics are shaped by architectural references and
the tranquillity of nature; we design products that have a lasting,
meaningful impact on customers’ everyday lives. The same goes for
the fabrics, colourways and finishes – they have been chosen for
their high quality and we’re confident they’ll continue to deliver
this quality for years to come. Function always comes before
form.

You started out working in fashion. How and why did your
homeware brand, Tekla come about?

Starting Tekla trickled from my frustration when it came to
sourcing beautiful, yet affordable home textiles. I’ve moved around
so much – between Paris,
Amsterdam
and
LA – and every time I moved, I needed to buy new textiles. Yet,
there was nothing that made me think “this is it”. Beyond this
need, Tekla is about creating something that you buy to wear in
your spare time or to sleep in; these are products that I want to
use. They are very functional but in a beautiful way.

What impact or influence did your sailing experience have on
your brand vision? Your first foray at Copenhagen Fashion Week did
involve a boat trip…

My sailing background has had a significant impact on our design
path and our key values. Sailing has forced me to acknowledge the
fact that everything needs to be functional. A towel should get you
dry. A blanket should warm you up. Simple things like that. Tekla
is about freedom, and to me functionality is freedom.

Many of your fabrics and designs are inspired by architecture.
Tell us about some of the spaces and structures that have
influenced your creations…

Tekla is about freedom, and to me functionality is freedom. To
live simply and not have too many things, to live in a space with
less but better furniture makes it all so relaxed, and adds more
quality to your life, I think. It’s about creating a room that
feels light and warm. You can see this at play in galleries,
museums, airports, but the spaces I have always admired are those
by Alvar Aalto, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Axel Vervoordt and John
Pawson.

Shop your own line. What are three of your favourite
pieces?

Rather than relying on favourite pieces and trendy seasonal
products, we aim to

build Tekla around elevated staples, which serve a genuine
purpose in today’s

world.

Where in Portugal are your robes made and what makes them so
comfy?

Our bathrobe line makes the most of expert craftsmanship by the
skilled men and women of the Braga and Guimarães cities in
Portugal. The robes’ fabric is woven in extra-thick, 385g

organic terry cotton that is combed, making it softer, stronger
and smoother than conventional cotton fibres.

What role has social media played in your brand’s growth?

In light of recent events, the landscape and priorities of
traditional PR for brands have dramatically changed. During the
COVID outbreak, we have refocused our communication into digital,
which gave us much more freedom in finding ways to tell our story.
With digital platforms and influencers, communication is much more
fluid too – there are so many possibilities with which you can
really have fun.

Tell us about your latest project, Sacred Places…

Sacred Places is a photo book made by our dear friend and
prominent photographer Philip Messmann. We’ve been working with
Philip since we started Tekla and we really admire his aesthetics;
this project was really something we’ve wanted to do together for
years. It unpicks the photographer’s idea of capturing the dream of
a sacred place. These are places – both past and future, fictive
and real – to which we travel to when we want to escape.

The photographs that make up Sacred Places are shot on Anholt
island in Denmark. Why did you and Phillip choose to shoot
there?

The decision to shoot at Anholt came very naturally. It’s a
small island between

Sweden and Denmark and it’s inhabited only by 150 permanent
residents. We’ve shot in and around Fyrgården, a
beautiful house eight kilometres from its nearest neighbour.
Surrounded by reefs and shoals, it was the perfect place to shoot
Sacred Places. This is somewhere you could escape and feel
content.

Charlie’s Pocket Guide to Copenhagen

EAT:

Restaurant Sankt Annæ

DRINK:

Apollo Bar &
Kantine

SHOP:

Andersen-Andersen

DO:

Swim in the ocean.

Sacred Places photo book by Philip Messmann is
available to order now.