Ebullient designer du jour Jan Haedrich (aka MME.MINK), founded her eponymous brand MME. MINK in 2019 following the disciplines of her decades long year career creating artful designs for luxury fashion houses including HÉRMES, Wolfgang Joop, and Ralph Lauren. The name MINK stems from the designer’s charming childhood nickname "Minky", and is an acronym for "Many
Individual Niceties we Keep". Haedrich travels the world receiving inspiration from architecture and cul- ture, and her products are featured on the pages of Vogue, Town & Country, Elle, and Harper’s BAZAAR to name a few.
A multimedia darling, her swoon worthy Instagram gallery distills the aspirational spirit of the bespoke brand. Haedrich is the creative force behind every element of MME. MINK. Her wit is signature to her style of de- sign, as seen in her hand-drawn illustrations and editorial expression of handbags, dresses, scarves, and other items of distinction. LUX LIFESTYLE takes a visit to Jan’s idyllic home in Maine where she finds inspiration for her covetable collections.
LUX:
Tell us about the history of your stately home in Wiscasset, Maine?
JAN:
Our home is located on the beautiful coast of Maine and known to many as the WOOD-FOOTE House. Built in 1811, it was truly a statement of elegance and prestige demon-strative of the wealthy ship merchant, Abiel Wood, before the shipping embargo of 1812. When the house was built, Maine had yet to be officially named as a state but in- stead still known as Massachusetts. I absolutely love the patina, charm and stateliness of old world architecture. Our house is everything I'd hope to find to make as home for my family.
LUX: What drew you to living in Maine?
JAN: On a trip from Boston the week of 9/11, my husband Todd and I decided to leave the city driving north to Maine. As we reached the midcoast we stopped for coffee and on a detour, we happened upon the house which at the time had been vacant for nearly 15 years and we were sold. Maine became my home base as well as the official MME.MINK's head- quarters, and I do all of my designing from my home studio. Maine is the perfect location to reach the rest of the world. A short distance from Boston, a quick flight to New York and only 6 hours to Europe. I adore New England and will always call it home.
LUX: How long did the restoration project take and what was the greatest challenge?
JAN: As the home had not been lived in for over a decade, it needed everything! A new roof, new electrical, new plumbing and there was no heat. Ceilings had collapsed. But it had good bones. I had never taken on a restoration project, but had a vision and I knew this was the place we needed to save. When one takes on a project this large, you never ever know what is in store! The task never ends for improvements. Initially to get it livable, it took over a year. However. restorations continue even to this day. I told my husband when we first saw the house, "This is where we will have our children." Of course, he thought I was joking. But quickly realized, that this dream would soon be a wonderful reality. We now have three children, and a sweet black Lab named Bordeaux. They adore our home and we are blessed with so many memories here.
LUX: Share a fun fact which you have learned about WOOD-FOOTE House?
JAN: It's grand Federal Style was a huge construction in its day with eleven fireplaces, ten bedrooms, and over 10,000 sqft of living space. It was the home to Maine's first at- torney general and its first female author. After its completion a “fireboy” was placed in charge of maintaining heat for the house. During the summer, his job was to collect all the wood to keep the fireplaces going throughout the winter months. As you may know, Maine winters are cold and long. He would have had a huge job keeping eleven fireplaces ablaze.
LUX: Do you have a favorite room in the home?
JAN:
I actually have two! Our grand rooms - one is named Louis XIV and the other is The Napoleon Room. Each room is decorated with a modern French twist including art and sculptures of each aristocrat that I have found along my travels in France, Rome and Maine. During the French Revolution, French sympathizers in Wiscasset launched a res- cue plan to save Marie Antoinette from prison before she was beheaded. In fact, folklore says, there was a house in town that was built for her to escape to and become her new home. During this time, several items from Marie Antoinette's home were brought back to Maine including a bed, armoire, fine furnishings, and even one of her Persian cats. His- tory made the final word to her fate, but still today, Wiscasset is known for its luxurious antique stores. This great story and my strong affinity for French antiquities inspired me to name our two grand rooms after Louis XIV and Napoleon.
LUX: Your home has many elegant details, share a few of your personal favorites?
JAN: I was told while working with contractors that our house would never be able to be rebuilt in its exact form - simply because its grandeur breaks too many building codes. Ha! There are several aspects about it that I adore, including the checkerboard floors, which I hand painted myself, the twelve foot ceilings, and beautiful light from the original leaded glass windows. I also covet our French crystal chandeliers and 17th century oil French and Dutch portrait paintings - each with their original gold gilded frames.
LUX: Let's talk fashion. Which MME.MINK items are the most popular right now?
JAN: The Lady Jane Petite, our Garden Dresses, the Carlton straw bag, and the Little
Royce.
LUX: The MME.MINK brand is known for its trunk shows at iconic destinations, in- cluding: AERIN in Palm Beach, The Ritz Paris, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Which is your favorite city to host at?
JAN: I've adored them all but The Ritz Paris in particular was such a dream location having lived in Paris. I find that Parisians truly covet fashion, and the excitement of the young influencers who attended the show was contagious. This summer we will be host- ing trunk shows in the Hamptons and Europe, as well as visiting our factories in Italy.
