About The Modern Dane

The Modern Dane blends contemporary Scandinavian design with sustainable fabrics 

We are a small business determined to make a big difference. We are committed to only manufacture with the highest quality eco-friendly materials produced under ethical labor conditions. 

We strive for simplicity, elegance and harmony with nature in our product and design. The beauty and quality of our organic European flax linen is the centerpiece while our designs bring the serenity of Scandinavian nature into your bedroom.

Our Story

Jacob Andsager, founder of The Modern Dane, grew up in the small town of Broager, Denmark. After moving to the United States in 2002, he spent a decade in Chicago, a place he holds dear, but it wasn’t until he arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 2022 that he felt truly at home. Yet, over time, Jacob began to feel a longing to reconnect with his Scandinavian roots and values – particularly the deep appreciation for how great design can improve our daily lives and the profound respect for the raw materials used in the products that we surround ourselves with. This desire sparked an idea: to use the duvet cover as a canvas to bring Nordic nature and aesthetics into people’s lives.

“I had this idea of bedding as a canvas,” he explains, noting that bedding becomes an intimate part of our daily lives, with a third of our lives spent in bed. Jacob envisioned nature-inspired motifs that honored his heritage and the landscapes he loves.

As he delved into the world of textiles, however, he was struck by the harsh realities of the cotton industry. Dubbed “the world’s dirtiest crop,” cotton relies heavily on pesticides, fertilizers, and water-intensive irrigation, which deplete ecosystems and often involve exploitative labor practices. Jacob knew he wanted no part in perpetuating such harms.

Through extensive research and collaboration with environmental organizations, he discovered certified organic European flax linen—and it was love at first sight. “Flax needs zero irrigation and zero pesticides. It’s a natural carbon sink, and its processing is purely mechanical, requiring no chemicals,” Jacob says. “It’s where quality meets sustainability. Plus, it’s a stunning textile that offers unparalleled comfort.”

Having discovered the perfect fabric to realize his dream, Jacob’s next challenge was finding a manufacturer to bring his vision to life. In 2018, Jacob traveled to the beautiful town of Guimarães — the cradle of quality European textile for centuries. Here he attended a trade show taking place in a magical setting — an ancient monastery atop a hill overlooking the medieval town below. There, Jacob soon connected with a manufacturer that shared his passion for linen as well as his values of sustainability and quality. With their expertise in European flax linen, they were able to source the finest linen textile in the world and handle it with the care that it deserves. The final piece had fallen into place.

To fully live up to the Scandinavian ethos of quality and sustainability, Jacob insisted that only GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX, and certified European Flax linen is used in The Modern Dane products. "This means that every part of the final product has been tested to meet the highest environmental and toxicological standards, resulting in organic and chemical-free bedding."

When it came to design, Jacob embraced the duvet cover’s large surface area to showcase the natural beauty of linen. “The patterns reflect my own expression of Scandinavian nature, while letting the beauty of the linen shine through” he says, blending simplicity with elegance to create timeless pieces.

The Modern Dane operates as a direct-to-consumer brand, eliminating the middleman and the typical 50-60% retail markup. This model not only makes premium-quality products more accessible but also enables thoughtful touches, such as eco-friendly packaging, and fosters meaningful connections with customers.

Seeing his vision come to life has been immensely rewarding for Jacob. He cherishes customer feedback, especially stories of people redesigning their rooms around his bedding. “I go to bed thinking about the thousands of people sleeping under our linens, enjoying safe and soothing rest,” he reflects. “It’s been an incredible journey.”

A Word from Our Founder

"Growing up in Denmark, I always had a profound appreciation for great design and its ability to enrich our lives. After living in the US for seventeen years, I longed to start a company that would bring me in touch with those roots and allow me to share my passion with my American family and friends. 

I also wanted to create things that bring joy into our customers' homes - things that will last a life-time or even be passed down to the next generation. I wanted to create products that embodied my own values of durability and sustainability. My goal is for your Modern Dane product to outlast the next ten you would have bought and then to be gracefully recycled. 

I honestly think we've reached the end of what can be sustained in terms of cheap, disposable products that end up in a landfill. I want to be a small part of the solution—getting back to craftsmanship and respect for the raw materials and the belief that good design should enrich our lives.

This is why I started The Modern Dane. I hope you will join us on our journey towards a future where we all live a bit more beautifully."