Behind Our Spring Collaboration with Lauren Bush Lauren and FEED

Rip & Tan: For those who may be unfamiliar, what is FEED?

Lauren Bush Lauren: FEED is a B Corp brand founded upon the belief that food is a universal human right. Everything we make helps provide school meals to fight childhood hunger. With every purchase, we make direct donations to our three giving partners who are helping to distribute school meals to kids living with food insecurity around the globe and here in the U.S. 

Rip & Tan: Can you speak to the mission behind the organization?

Lauren Bush Lauren: Our mission is, and has always been, to end childhood hunger. It’s the reason I founded FEED in 2007! Every single purchase helps provide school meals, through direct donations to our three giving partners. When kids have access to at least one healthy meal in school, it helps them learn better and stay in school longer. With that education, they have a better chance of breaking out of the poverty cycle that unfortunately so many children around the globe are born into. School meals are so vital in helping ensure future generations are well-fed and well-educated!

Rip & Tan: How did FEED originally come to be? What are some of the ways it’s evolved?

Lauren Bush Lauren: I started with the design for one eco-friendly, reusable bag, the FEED 1 Bag, which is still a best-seller of ours! And a desire to make a difference as a brand that gives-back, rather than a nonprofit, which was a novel concept at the time. Since then, our assortment of sustainably-made, functional bags has evolved and grown. We’re proud of where we’ve landed, and now have a sister 501c3 as well, called the FEED Foundation. 

Rip & Tan: Talk to us about these beautiful napkins. What inspired the collaboration?

Lauren Bush Lauren: A few years ago we made our first collection of home goods at FEED, including linen napkins. We have long been inspired by Jenni Kayne Home and were so thrilled to collaborate on a pattern and design for a beautiful, classic, blue and white striped napkin set, made from 100% linen. 

Rip & Tan: When someone purchases these napkins for their own linen collection, what kind of impact are they making?

Lauren Bush Lauren: Every product in the FEED x Jenni Kayne Collection will help provide 10 school meals for children facing food insecurity. The entire collection–napkin set, apron, and XL Market tote—will help provide 6,750 school meals! These meals will reach kids around the globe and here in the U.S. through direct donations to our three giving partners. 

Rip & Tan: As you set a table, what elements would you pick to complement these linen pieces?

Lauren Bush Lauren: I’m so excited to set my spring and summer table with these beautiful linens. I would pair them with some fresh, seasonal flowers, a simple tablecloth or placemats, and a beautiful, veggie-laden spread.