Hello!
We're Magda and Nika, sisters, catladies, and the two people behind Maddowe.
Maddowe (pronounced mad-oh) comes from meadow, a place that's a little wild, a little colorful, and full of things you didn't expect to find. That's the feeling we're going for: joy, color, and something genuinely one of a kind, made by two people who've never finished a project without a cat trying to destroy it first. That's not a bug. It's basically our factory setting.
Sisters are gonna sister
Catladies AF
Always Wine'o'clock
Always 100% weird
Everything you see here is handmade by the two of us in Chicago, thrifted with care, or both: vintage fabrics, recycled clothing, repurposed materials, given new life instead of a landfill. We believe in wearing what you want, doing what you want, and being who you want, no permission required. Coziness over perfection. A home that actually makes you want to be there. Kindness to animals who don't get a say, and to the women who don't always get told to take up space.
Playing with materials and textures
Always learning new skills
Upcycling and reimagining
Art you can wear
We didn't choose the catlady life. The catlady life chose us. Catlady, to us, isn't a gender. It's an attitude. If that's you, welcome home (cat optional, but encouraged). But also note that if you're alergic to cats, don't buy our clothes. The photos below are of personal projects and just for fun, but we're super cat friendly and a home business so...
You won't find flat black or plain white in our work. There's too much color and texture in between, and we love all of it. Our Polish heritage, our love of travel, and our appreciation for a piece made by hand instead of a machine show up in every detail. No two pieces are exactly alike, on purpose.
(Okay, one confession: we can't resist a good t-shirt. So if we think of something brilliant, you might occasionally find one here too. Everything else, though, is still handmade, still one of a kind, still us.)
We do this ethically, thoughtfully, and with a whole lot of heart. We're catladies who don't fit in a box. Have a look around. We hope you find something that brings you joy.
Magda & Nika