Madre Linens Elevate Any Meal, From Breakfast Granola to Taco Night
Words by Olivia Lidbury
Photography courtesy of Madre Linen
A napkin is so much more than an essential meal accessory.
For Shay Carillo, co-founder of Madre Linen, it’s a vehicle for injecting tactility and color at mealtime. “I like combinations that are perhaps seen as a bit ‘off’ and create intrigue and surprise—like pink and orange,” says the Portland, Oregon-based creative.
Her designs feature beautifully rolled hems with contrasting, bound edges. Madre, meaning ‘mother’ in Spanish, calls on Shay’s Mexican heritage and the act of creating nurturing products for the home. “I think of Madre as an archetypal spirit or energy that we can all tap into, male or female, whether we are parents or not,” she muses. “It embodies a spirit we all have. We all crave comfort and home as a place of rest and respite.”
This sense of mothering also applies to how Shay runs the business. Previously working in the creative team for the Gap as a photo producer, managing corporate expectations alongside freelance contributors, has given her a unique vantage point: “I want a company culture that feels safe and collaborative. I want all voices to feel heard.”
Photography by Michael Clifford; Styling by Kate Berry
How Madre came about
The brand is built off the back of my former business, Non Perishable Goods. I started making napkins when my kids were small and went to a Waldorf school. They had to bring in a basket lunch with two napkins—one to define their lunch space and one for their hands and face. I couldn't find what I wanted, so I started making them. I rebranded in 2019 when I wanted to deepen the linen assortment and find a more transparent supply chain.
What differentiates Madre Linen from the rest
We work with premium, traceable flax linen that is grown in Belgium and processed in a mill in Lithuania. We also do color really well. I want vibrancy in my life, not the beige, monochromatic trend we’ve experienced over the past decade.
Photography courtesy of Madre Linen
What makes a considered tabletop
I like things that are real: bits of nature or even fresh food as an art piece. And lots of candles. But my favorite time is the aftermath, when you’ve eaten and there are spills, half-empty plates, and the conversation is flowing.
What’s inspiring me right now
It's spring in Portland, and this moment of rebirth with so many gorgeous blossoms and colors always infuses a lot of creative energy inside me.
Photography by Michael Clifford; Styling by Kate Berry
What I’m most proud of
We’ve been in partnership with a local, female-run manufacturing facility for the past 13 years. It’s important to me to give back to the local economy and invest in local production.
I think that at heart, I'm a socialist, so like The Expert, I appreciate any endeavor toward more people being able to access something—be it basic needs or luxurious things like design. Accessibility is a beautiful thing. As a philosophy, it’s important to me.
A ‘pinch-me’ moment
I just had one this past week! I'm styling the cookbook for Chef's Table star Sarah Minnick, who has a pizza restaurant here in Portland. Her editor in New York knew of me through Madre, which is funny because I always just feel like we’re this tiny, little brand. When people have heard of Madre or they already love it, it always feels like ‘pinch-me’!
Photography courtesy of Madre Linen
What I dream of adding to our assortment
There’s so much I want to do: a small capsule of loungewear-style clothing. I also envision bags, and more stripes and checks!
What’s next…
I'm hopeful that we’ll soon be partnering with local restaurants and have our natural fiber products on their tables instead of the polyester napkins that are everywhere. The less plastic we can put into the world, the better.
