Matthew, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. If anything, I am truly inspired by how you continue to grow. Let’s start with a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I am called to change my reaction speed and tone when speaking to the world — a shift that already feels inspired from within.
My name is Matthew Schildkret, and I’m the founder of Late Sunday Afternoon, a Venice-born lifestyle company built around the idea that clothing and ritual can bring people back to themselves. At its heart, what we create isn’t just fashion — it is intentional objects and experiences designed to last. Every scarf, hoodie, or heirloom piece we make is hand-knotted and blessed as a reminder that you are loved, protected, and part of something bigger. Much of what I do is inspired by legacy rather than trends.
What makes us unique is that we live at the intersection of craft and ceremony. We’re not trying to chase trends — we’re building legacy. Our pieces are meant to be lived in, passed down, and tied to memory. The brand was born in a little shop in Venice, but it has grown into a community practice: weaving together art, purpose, and connection in a way that has always inspired those who walk through our doors.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding our reach while keeping the soul intact — scaling from a small but passionate business into a global company that still feels intimate. At the same time, I’m raising a young family and exploring what it means to grow in all directions with the same sense of presence and care.
Inspired by the Past, Grounded in the Present
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past has shaped who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that believed I had to carry everything alone has served its purpose. For years I thought strength meant doing it all myself — being the designer, the operator, the visionary, the caretaker. That survival instinct kept me moving forward, but it also kept me small. Now, I’m inspired by what happens when community steps in.
What I’m learning is that true strength is in allowing others in, trusting the team, and letting community carry some of the weight. The lone-wolf version of me has done its job, but it no longer serves the man, the father, or the leader I’m becoming. I’m releasing the need to control every thread and choosing instead to weave alongside others.
What Suffering Taught Me
Suffering showed me the illusion of control. Success can trick us into believing we authored every victory, but suffering humbles you into remembering you’re part of something much larger. It taught me presence. When you’re in pain, the mind wants to escape, but the only way through is right here, right now. In this sense, suffering becomes an inspired teacher — revealing our shared humanity and the fragile beauty of life.
The Quiet Truths That Guide Me
There are truths so woven into who I am that I rarely articulate them. Integrity, kindness, love, respect, boundaries — these aren’t ideas, they’re foundations. They quietly guide everything I create, and they remind me of the inspired purpose behind Late Sunday Afternoon.
Following the Calling, Not the Script
I’m doing what I was born to do — not what I was told to do. Nobody told me to tie knots in fabric, bless them, and hand them to strangers. Nobody told me to turn a small shop in Venice into a sanctuary for ritual and connection. This calling has always been inspired by something older than instruction, older than trend, older than fashion itself.
Every time I tie a knot in a scarf, I remember: this is why I’m here.
