Photo: Stina Norlin
She showed up in my feed right as her release party for her second collection was happening. I thought, "We must feature her," and here we are with Matilda Book, the founder of the upcycling brand MTABK, as one of our guests and our cover for edition 18. We visited her lovely studio and were inspired by her amazing pieces.
Crafted in clay and designed by her hands, Tilde Einerfeldt's ceramics are a collection of personal, creative artworks. She guided us through her latest creations and shared the stories behind them.
Tilde's guest appearance resulted in two designed cups for Nunc. These handcrafted cups are the only way to enjoy my coffee this summer.
Wishing you all a happy summer!
Johanna Karlqvist, Editor
Let's hang out.
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Matilda Book's Journey with MTABK
In the quiet and cozy neighborhood of Bagaregården, you'll find MTABK's studio. The streets are tree-lined, and the area's charm has been beautifully preserved over the years.
The 31-year-old Gothenburg-based designer Matilda Book spends more time in her studio than at home. Fortunately, she doesn't have to go far to get some rest. "I live 10 minutes from here, just a little bit down the hill," she explains.
Through her accent, you can tell she's not originally from Gothenburg but from the hometown of Spettekaka, Skåne.
In 2016, she moved to Borås to study fashion design at the Swedish School of Textiles.
"I loved it, I had my own studio space and spent my time sewing and creating."
"I loved it, I had my own studio space and spent my time sewing and creating"
After completing her studies, she wanted to follow her passion for sustainable fashion.
She strated the ucycling copmany MTABK for one main reason, to change the fashion industry.
Photo: Stina Norlin
Photo: Stina Norlin
Photo: Stina Norlin
Photo: Stina Norlin
Running her own business has always been a dream for Matilda. Over the years, MTABK has gradually taken shape.
"It has taken time to discover my aesthetic and the materials I want to work with. I've had to look inward and reflect on who I am and what I want to convey through my creations."
MTABK, a play on Matilda's initials, became the name of her fashion brand with focus on upcycling.
"Some people ask me if it's a sports club—'Boll Klubb' in Swedish," she says, laughing.
“When starting a brand nowdays, it was clear to me that sustainability had to be a priority,” she states.
“When starting a brand nowdays, it was clear to me that sustainability had to be a priority”
MTABK´s focus area is reuse of vintage and second-hand products that otherwise would have been thrown away.
“I had my upcycling idea five years ago”. Back then, people would comment, "Are you really going to sew with old materials? Will anyone actually want to buy that?" Things have progressed quickly, and today she is not alone running a upcycling company.
While we sit in her studio around the vintage wooden table, she shares details about her latest collaboration with Wargö Innovation.
Wargön Innovation is a creative hub dedicated to fostering a circular economy. They sort seconhand materials , support research projects, and assist various entrepreneurs and now also MTABK.
“I sent them my mood boards specifying the materials I wanted. Right now, I have 120 kg of denim in my basement”.
“Right now, I have 120 kg of denim in my basement”
“You should have seen my car; I loaded the materials in, and they barely fit” she tells and express her happines about the collaboration.
Photo: Stina Norlin
Photo: Stina Norlin
Denim Dreams - SS23 & SS24 collection
So far, she has created two collections, SS23 and SS24. SS24 Denim is the common thread through these collections and the primary focus.
"I have a great love for denim; I think it's an incredible material. Besides coming in so many washes and colors, it's also durable."
Unlike knitted garments, which are more challenging to upcycle due to pilling, denim is a fantastic material for upcycling because it lasts a long time. “Jeans that are 20 years old can still be worn,” Matilda explains.
“Additionallly to denim I enjoy adding other material that add a lively feel” she explains. In SS23 and SS24 you'll find materials like lace and jersey twill.
“Additionallly to denim I enjoy adding other material that add a lively feel”
At the time of our conversation, Matilda wears the Lace Panel Skirt from the SS24 collection paired with an oversized black blazer and silver New Balance sneakers.
A recurring theme in the collections is the use of panels that create a handkerchief effect, a technique seen in both denim and lace.
I'm inspired by the materials I have; they somewhat dictate how the collections turn out.
She gets up and strides across the checkered black and white floor in the studio. She returns with the MAXI CUT OUT DRESS from SS23. This is truly a statement piece, and the story behind it makes it even cooler.
“It's made from dresses with production flaws—originally, the dress couldn't pass over the hips", she says.
“It's made from dresses with production flaws—originally, the dress couldn't pass over the hips"
Today, the zippers who originaly ware placed in the back have become cut-out details that can be closed to achieve a transformed look.
the Norwegian singer-songwriter Julie Bergan is someone who has worn MTBKS's designs.
We connected via Instagram, and it all started when I lent her a blazer for her music video.
One of my pieces she wore even made it to Times Square— the DENIM TOP from my first collection.
“I love seeing people wearing MTABK”, Matilda says and smile.
Photo: MTABK, DENIM TOP & LIGHT BLUE MAXI SKIRT
Photo: MTABK, MAXI CUT OUT DRESS
On the clothing rack hang all the pieces from the latest collection, and on the edge hangs THE BOOTBAG, a bag crafted from a repurposed shoe with a strap made from a reused belt, MTABKS first bag.
On the pastel blue walls are pictures from the SS24 collection.
"It was a fun shoot and, in many ways, spontaneous," says Matilda as she explains how it happened. She was going to Sri Lanka on vacation and found a beautiful boutique hotel run by two Italians. "When I saw the bathroom, I knew I had to photograph my collection there."
The open-air bathroom had coral-red concrete walls that met a green floor.
"I thought, with daylight and palm trees, this can't go wrong.
"I thought, with daylight and palm trees, this can't go wrong"
It was perfect for the collection.
I even booked a model in Sri Lanka, and I was thrilled with her.
IIt turned into a full-scale production with makeup and hairstyling. "My partner filmed for TikTok while I took the photos," she explains.
Matilda has an incredible personality—easy to talk to, full of drive, and overflowing with creativity. On top of that, she's just a really cool girl.
Can't wait for the next collection and to see Matilda living her dream, quitting her job to focus solely on MTABK.
Photo: MTABK, DENIM TUBE TOP & LACE PANEL SKIRT
Photo: MTABK, JERSEY TIE TOP & DENIM WRAP SKIRT
The craftsmanship of ceramicist Tilde Einerfeldt
Photo: Tilde Einerfeldt
"Did the cups survive the shipping?" was one of the first things Tilde asked me. And yes, they did—my Nunc cups, designed by ceramicist Tilde Einerfeldt, arrived perfectly intact. Together, we discussed every detail of the cups: shape, pattern, color, and engraving.
"The most fun part is combining my own style with others' ideas or businesses," Tilde shared.
In her studio located in Stockholm Mariatorget, Tilde unleashes her creativity.
"Working with my hands is something that makes me feel good," Tilde says.
"Working with my hands is something that makes me feel good"
As the first cultural worker in her family, she is the one to pass this passion on to future generations.
"Pottery is my biggest interest," she explains. Today, she is a tenant with dedicated studio time once a week, works as a substitute when the owner is away, and takes care of the studio
"It started 2.5 years ago when I took a beginner's pottery class," she recalls.
She enjoyed it but found it challenging to control the clay.
"I felt a bit insulted by the clay, like I had no say in the matter," she says.
"I felt a bit insulted by the clay, like I had no say in the matter"
After that frustrating experience, she switched to hand-building, a method that takes longer but gives her more control.
Photo: Johanna Karlqvist
Photo: Johanna Karlqvist
Photo: Johanna Karlqvist
Adding character and charm to any home
Tilde's ceramics are truly unique and will add character and charm to any home.
"I avoid sticking to specific trends. Inspiration can come from anywhere, and I love offering a wide variety of styles," Tilde explains.
Tacos, the most Swedish of foods, have inspired Tilde to design a plate adorned with hand-painted ingredients that she herself uses in her tacos, which might spark a discussion or two.
"What people put in their tacos can be a sensitive topic, this ceramic piece might be provocative for many," Tilde laughs.
"What people put in their tacos can be a sensitive topic, this ceramic piece might be provocative for many”
First shaped in clay, dried and fired in a kiln, then hand-decorated with designs before the final firing – finished! Thats the process Tilde use.
Among the collection, you'll also find charcuterie boards with various compartments for each delicacy.
The section for olives and pits is a stroke of genius and my personal favorite. With this design, you no longer need to hunt for a small bowl for the pits—it's two in one.
Photo: Tiilde Einerfeldtt
Photo: Tilde Einerfeldt
It was these charcuterie boards that led to the collaboration with the secondhand company Plick.
"Someone from their marketing team saw my charcuterie boards and asked if I could create something similar for them."
"For Tilde, it was an easy yes, as she is a big fan of secondhand shopping.
"In 2023, I decided not to buy anything new, and I've stuck to it since then,” she says proudly.
"In 2023, I decided not to buy anything new, and I've stuck to it since then”
"I'm part of a generation, and surrounded by people, who feel guilty about buying new things, which is a good."
Instead of a ceramic charcuterie board, Plick wanted compartments for their event items, such as stickers, popsockets, and important information.
“The deadline was three weeks, and ceramics is a long process," Tilde explains.
With the underlying stress to get everything done, she meticulously planned every detail.
"After the first firing, the board cracked, so I had to start over."
In the end, all went well. “Seeing the board come out of the kiln in perfect condition was incredibly fulfilling” she says in the sens of releaf.
Photo: Tilde Einerfeldt
Her latest ceramics, now available on Vinted, are cups inspired by Arla products.
“Recently, I found inspiration in Arla's milk and sour cream for my ceramics. They've been on my mind ever since I made a commercial for them a couple of years ago,” says Tilde.
“They've been on my mind ever since I made a commercial for them a couple of years ago”
Theater is her other great passion, and she dreams of working in that field someday. So far, she has had 12 different roles in commercials and appeared in the youth series "Otajmat." Auditions are ongoing, but competition is tough, and the economic downturn has hit the industry hard.
The cups featuring Arla design were well received and now she needs to make many more.
Besides her studies, she works at the breakfast cafe Pom & Flora
"I created the cafes menu in cermaic, which we’ll be hanging on the wall," Tilde explains.
During our conversation, Tilde had just wrapped up her semester and is looking forward to summer. Besides her work, she will spend a lot of time in the studio creating. Let’s see what inspires her next.
Parts of the Editor's life
3 Must-haves Summer 2024, according to me
Poloshirt
Beach hat
White maxi dress
Let's hang out.
About
A missing space for creativity, that's why and how Nunc publication was founded.
The founder has been looking for a place that illustrates a new approach towards consuming, positive rather than judgmental. As an outsider in the writing industry, Johanna has now created that place.
Nunc publication strives to discuss and inspire to consume in a more sustainable way, but also initiate a creative process questioning our behavior's. By inviting relevant people/businesses and include the readers, creativity will thrive and lifestyles will change.
Stories
Every person carries within them a unique story, a tapestry woven from the threads of their experiences, background and challenges. Those stories are truly inspiring to me.
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