By: India Phoenix

Colorful faux-fur coats, ribbon-laced woven baskets, and satin twill gowns that feel straight out of Old Hollywood: this is what I discovered at the debut of MME.MINK’s Fall/Holiday 2025 collection. Founded in 2019, MME.MINK is the creative universe of Boston-based designer Jan Haedrich, a brand that stitches together Grace Kelly’s glamour with Jane Birkin’s effortless confidence. 

I had the opportunity to sit down with Haedrich (Madame Mink herself) at the debut to explore the inspiration behind the brand’s unprecedented elegance and what defines her newest collections–À la neige, Holiday Blush, La Fête Rouge, and Touch of Mink. Here’s what I discovered. 

Once Upon a Sketchbook

Haedrich’s relationship with design began in childhood, shaped by an early fascination with beauty and a family deeply immersed in the arts. She learned the skill of sketch art at the age of 5, under the guidance of her brother, which would prove formative in her early career in luxury goods. Over the years, she collaborated with prestigious houses including Wolfgang Joop in Germany, Ralph Lauren in New York, and Hermès, earning recognition for her precise couture illustrations and dreamy scarf designs.

“I carried all my paints and pencils in a basket,” Haedrich recounts of her days traveling Europe as a designer. “It was like my own Jane Birkin basket. I became known as the artist with the basket,” she smiles. Her basket would later become the inspiration for MME.MINK’s iconic woven totes – an item that first got the attention of Aerin Lauder during the early days of the brand. They continue to be recognized for their distinct grosgrain ribbons, tied neatly around the structured handles and draping softly over the tote’s classic woven silhouette. 

After more than two decades working in the luxury goods design industry, Haedrich wanted to nurture something that was entirely her own. “My personality is a little more colorful, a little more witty, and I always thought that I wanted to do something when I got to that point in my life where I pulled out all the stops, where I would design something that would be everything that I love.”

MME.MINK was born out of this dream and founded on a commitment to tradition and the enchantment of heritage. Inspired by Haedrich’s childhood nickname “Minky,” MINK today stands for “Many Individual Niceties we Keep,” highlighting the brand’s dedication to designing pieces with legacy. 

Holiday Charm in the Fall/Holiday 2025 Collection

MME.MINK’s Fall/Holiday 2025 collection builds on the brand’s dedication to quality craftsmanship, pairing signature pieces like the woven baskets with faux fur coats and sequined dresses. 

These different textures blend effortlessly to create an elegant winter wardrobe: plush faux fur offers warmth on snowy nights while woven totes add a distinctive touch to everyday looks and sequined dresses catch the light, shimmering through every holiday celebration. In bringing these elements together, MME.MINK not only delivers timeless luxury, but couture designed to be lived in. 

“What I’m really excited about is our satin twills,” adds Haedrich. “Our satin twill dresses are just beautiful, and they are actually crafted in the same Italian ateliers as Prada and Miu Miu!” 

The hallmarks of Italian luxury are unmistakable in MME.MINK’s satin twills. Available in shades ranging from burgundy to baby cornflower, these dresses offer clients the chance to choose the perfect expression of this elegant fabric for any occasion. 

Madame Mink’s Collection Favorites: 

1. The MME. KENNEDY COAT, inspired by Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “It makes you look like you’re floating when you’re walking!” exclaims Haedrich. 
2. “Anything sequins,” especially the MME. CAP FERRAT SEQUIN DRESS (as seen on Haedrich), perfect for a New Year’s soirée. 
3. The MME. OPERA MINI DRESS, a silhouette that feels both playful and sophisticated. Adorned with radiant jewels, it is ultimately glamorous yet effortlessly modern, embodying the very essence of MME.MINK’s vision. Cut at the perfect mini length, it’s the ideal dress to dance the night away in  this holiday season.
4. My personal favorite? The MME. LEGACY BIRK BASKET, an organic wicker tote with a grosgrain ribbon accent inspired by the iconic Jane Birkin.

And because MME.MINK is all about the details, even the packaging tells a story. Sketched by Haedrich herself, the boxes take the form of the Petit Trianon in Versailles, a place that Haedrich has long been fascinated by. “I had sketched the Petit Trianon before I’d ever seen it in person, and I’ve always wanted to move in!” she shares. After now having had the opportunity to visit this historic residence, Haedrich continues to find inspiration from this elegant location.

From the symmetry of its design to its classical lines, subtle architectural details are reflected in the structured shape of the boxes. The perfectly lined windows and neoclassical façade of the Petit Trianon transform MME.MINK’s packaging into a dollhouse-like dream that reflects the brand’s devotion to feminine old-world elegance. Opening one of these boxes becomes an experience in itself, capturing the essence of this brand: the pleasure of owning niceties thoughtfully crafted and filled with heritage.

What comes next?

MME.MINK is already preparing its next events, with pop-ups in Paris, London, and Rome on the lookout in the new year. “We really travel a lot but we don’t sell into boutiques because we want to preserve the experience of the brand,” explains Haedrich. Through this approach, every encounter with MME.MINK feels personal and grounded in the brand’s identity, allowing clients to connect directly with the sentiment woven into each piece. These deeply curated, intimate experiences are part of what makes MME.MINK such a memorable brand. 

My time with Jan Haedrich revealed a designer who aims not only to build a brand, but a creative universe defined by intention and charm. Each piece of the Fall/Holiday 2025 collection carries its own story, deepening the heritage that is MME.MINK. Discovering Haedrich’s fashion world was an unforgettable experience! 

To explore more of MME.MINK and discover the entire Fall/Holiday 2025 collection, visit https://mmemink.com/ and follow @mme.mink on Instagram.