Thekla Wilkening: Daughter of a filmmaker publishes debut novel on Hiddensee

Thekla Wilkening: Daughter of a filmmaker publishes debut novel on Hiddensee

The daughter of the well-known television producer Thomas Wilkening, Thekla Wilkening, will publish her debut novel “We remain us” on June 16th. The novel deals with themes such as power, closeness, shared life, political conversations and personal developments. Thekla lives with her husband and two children on the idyllic island of Hiddensee, where her family has been spending time since the 1960s. Her father, Thomas Wilkening, was an influential figure in the East German film industry and had an accident in 2005 when he collapsed into a frozen pond in the dark.

Thekla Wilkening was born in Potsdam in 1987 and regularly speaks to her family about the turning point and its far-reaching effects. She emphasizes the need to communicate about the past in order to overcome social divisions. She values ​​life on Hiddensee very much because it offers her both social and quiet moments. She uses this balanced lifestyle to prepare for the publication of her book.

Commitment to sustainability

As co-founder of “kleiderei” in Hamburg, the first fashion sharing startup in Germany, Thekla Wilkening is also a voice for sustainable fashion. The company offers high-quality second-hand fashion for rent and has made a name for itself in the sustainability-conscious fashion landscape. Wilkening works in the industry as a consultant on sustainability strategies and is concerned about the ecological damage caused by the fashion industry.

The fashion industry contributes more greenhouse gases to global warming than international flights and shipping combined. According to absatzwirtschaft.de, the production volume increased to around 200 billion items of clothing in 2020, with 60% being made from environmentally harmful polyester. Wilkening is therefore calling for comprehensive reform and a supply chain law to ensure more transparency in the industry.

Personal challenges and social commitment

Thekla Wilkening is not only committed to ecological but also social issues. She is the mother of a daughter with Down syndrome and is committed to visibility and support for affected families. She reported in VOGUE about the challenges she experienced during her pregnancy. These personal experiences have shaped her and she would like to encourage others to speak openly about such topics.

Wilkening often experiences rejection and pity from others, but her pride in her daughter Toni, who is now three years old, prevails. Her family conversations about the reunification period and its socio-cultural effects are particularly important to her. She feels comfortable on Hiddensee and enjoys the cultural diversity of the region, which offers her the inspiration and peace she needs for her artistic projects.