Natalie Pfau, Designer & Owner of PFAU
Natalie is a talented designer and textile collector who I serendipitously met through Craigslist! I bought a beautiful linen couch from her, and when I went to her house to pick it up, she showed me her amazing collection of textiles and we ended up chatting for 2 hours. I was blown away and asked her on the spot if we could collaborate on some items for the Santa Fe Found holiday collection. She said yes, and suggested that we upcycle some remnant fabrics she had in her studio. For the linen patchwork stockings, Natalie selected linen pieces of various textures and shades to create a neutral palette with interest and some dimension. For the indigo patchwork stockings, Natalie chose a combination of striped, tie-dyed, and solid fabrics to create a playful aesthetic that shows off the different styles of West African indigo textiles. You can shop the stockings here.
-Zippy
How long have you been doing your craft/business, and how did you get started?
In 2013 I moved to Austin, TX to work with my aunt Carola who was a textile dealer and collector. Carola was my mentor and taught me much of what I know today about textiles. She began collecting in the 1980s while living in Japan and eventually left her law career to deal in antique textiles and jewelry full-time. I worked with her for almost two years and then went on to start my own textile business. I also began by collecting vintage textiles and repurposing them into home decor items but chose Mexico and Guatemala as my areas of focus. My mom is Colombian and I wanted to learn more about Latin American textile traditions. While traveling in Mexico I became drawn to the rebozo, the iconic Mexican shawl. In 2018 I started a project working with reboceros–the weavers of the rebozo–in Mexico. I became very close with one weaving family in particular and we began experimenting with different dyes and yarns. I ordered 80 kilos of beautiful, finely spun cotton yarn from Italy and then covid hit right as we were about to begin our first trial. Because I like to be present during our test runs, the project was put on hold for nearly two years. I’m going back in December and cannot wait to resume our work together. I’m now fusing that project with the textiles my aunt Carola left behind to build PFAU.
What was your professional journey before working in this field?
My journey immediately after graduating college was less professional and more travel oriented. I lived in Montana and Kauai for a few years and waited tables. My first restaurant job was at a biker bar in Montana, and in Kauai I switched to fine dining. Once I decided to pursue my own business in textiles, I moved to Austin to work with Carola and learn from her first. After Austin I moved to Washington, D.C. where I continued to work in restaurants to support myself while starting my own business. It wasn’t always easy to find focus or gain momentum, but I couldn’t trade in the creative freedom it afforded me.
What makes your pieces special?
A combination of things. I am very particular about the materials I use and only work with cotton, linen, hemp or silk. I pay close attention to the fineness of the weave, whether the designs are well registered, and to the hand of the fabric. Almost all of the textiles in my collection now are handwoven on either backstrap or pedal looms. When re-working vintage textiles to design something new, I try to create a piece with harmony that is distinctive, yet will stand the test of time. I work locally with wonderful and very skilled seamstresses to help bring these pieces to life. Considering the fine details is probably my favorite part of the process.
What is your favorite thing about your work?
I love the freedom to explore design ideas and the constant challenge to improve. I love that the creative possibilities are endless. I have a pretty good collection of textile books, and when I open one up my mind is blown. You could choose just one technique and spend a lifetime studying it.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your work?
Giving enough time to the various aspects of the business. In particular, marketing. Also not having a physical space to regularly connect with others in. I work primarily from home and all of my items are in my studio. I’d love to find a temporary local space to pop-up in and connect with others.
What advice can you give to budding creatives and entrepreneurs in Santa Fe?
Find a mentor! Santa Fe and the surrounding towns seem to draw creative individuals from all over the world at various stages of their careers. Reach out to someone in your field of interest and cultivate a relationship. A mentor can be eye-opening and life-changing.
How long have you been in Santa Fe and what brought you here?
I moved to Santa Fe with my husband in mid-2020. We’d spent time here with my aunt Carola while she was ill and fell in love with New Mexico. We knew we would want to come back. After she passed, we went back to Portland, OR, but missed the open space and peacefulness here, to say nothing of the sunshine. We ended up buying my aunt’s house, which is what she had told me she hoped we would do.
What do you like most about Santa Fe?
I love the land, the big open sky, the light, and the mountains. I seriously wake up, get a glass of water and look out the kitchen window and say “Oh my God” almost every morning. That sounds crazy, but it’s true. I like that Santa Fe has a rich cultural history that feels so distinct from anywhere else in the U.S. I love the fact that it’s such an old city and how that’s reflected in the architecture, quirky design details and the little winding streets.
At the end of the day, why do you do what you do?
Because I love working with beautiful things and problem solving. My business allows me to do both of these on a daily basis. I also love the people that this business puts me in proximity to: creative people who value their craft and figure out how to make it work. I feel very lucky that I can give this a try and I want to continue to challenge myself and explore new design possibilities.
Do you and your family have any special holiday traditions?
Growing up we actually didn’t have many holiday traditions, other than the fact that my dad would always, exclusively, cook lamb as our entree, even during Thanksgiving. He grew up in Germany, and like the rest of the Pfaus, really seems to dislike turkey. Right before covid hit, my husband and I went to see my family in Berlin and my aunt Claudia made the best cake I’ve ever eaten, her version of an Eierlikör Torte. I have the recipe written down and am going to give it a try. As a recently married person I’m looking forward to creating new holiday traditions and am always curious to hear about other people’s… is there a book of these?
What are you most looking forward to this holiday season?
Hosting my mom, stepdad, sister and sister-in-law at our house. My family is on the east coast and my mom and stepdad have never been to New Mexico. I’m also looking forward to making presents this year. I think handmade presents are the best and I’d really like to put some time into it. I’m going to block off a weekend and get busy on some personalized stockings!