I remember when I was expecting my first daughter; the excitement, the joy, the questions, the books, the magazines. Naturally, as inquisitive as a first-time mama can be, I researched everything about everything of becoming a future mom; from the cutest baby overalls to the 100+ benefits of breastfeeding. I was surprised by the sea of baby-related choices I could find, and yet, I had a very hard time finding stylish and comfy postpartum clothes.
Thankfully, Ashley and Danielle are here to help! The talented pair have created a fashionable line, appropriately named Madri, that will make breastfeeding and getting back in shape far easier without sacrificing personal taste. I can’t tell you how much better it would’ve been to have them around when I was a new mom. Now, with women going back to the office while breastfeeding and pumping, being discreet is made easy. The line is filled with pieces I’d wear in my life even now, so it’s money well-spent.
How many years have you been in business in NYC?
We have been in business for one and a half years.
How did you get your start and what was your initial inspiration?
We were lucky enough to become mothers 5 weeks apart. When we were nursing our daughters, we realized pretty quickly that the breastfeeding-friendly clothing options on the market were quite limited.
As two style-obsessed individuals, we decided to design our own line, and within 6 months we launched Madri. We firmly believe that fashion doesn’t stop when you become a mother, and that the ability to nurse your babe effortlessly, whether at the breast or via pump, is essential.
What do you feel differentiates you from others in your field?
Many breastfeeding-friendly clothing options are centered around athleisure and comfort, which is great, but our mission is to design a line that makes women feel like themselves anywhere they find themselves—back at the office, at brunch with friends, at a wedding, while not sacrificing being able to nurse their babies.
What do you feel gives you longevity in this big city with so many options?
New York truly is a place where you can make anything happen. Neither of us had any prior experience in fashion design before Madri Collection, but after 16 years of living and working in New York, we made a few phone calls to some really willing friends and colleagues, and we were able to launch the company.
How do you positively impact your clientele?
Being a new mom has a lot of challenges—from caring for a newborn, to functioning on no sleep, to dealing with a new body. We found that if we could start improving the postpartum experience by improving one pain point, we could make an impact.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Probably talking to our customers and getting feedback from them. It’s so rewarding to hear from customers that have had a positive experience, and it’s equally important to hear from customers who are helping us improve our product. For example, we’re hoping to to launch more sizes in the near future so we can dress moms across the fit spectrum.
What is your favorite secret NYC spot?
Probably our apartments, haha. But we love Lucali (which is not so secret anymore!) for a pizza night.
How do you benefit mamas?
We aim to make moms feel good by helping them look good. Just because you’re breastfeeding, doesn’t mean you have to give up fashion!
What is the most memorable feedback a client has given you?
The most memorable feedback from a customer was probably a customer from Paris who bought virtually the entire line; she simply loved everything we designed so much that she was willing to pay to ship it overseas.
Pay it forward and name your top colleagues in the same field or related field.
Moloco Swim, Matrescence, Miracle Milkookies, Boober.
What is the best advice anyone's ever given you? Or what is your "mantra" / words to live by?
Recently Nadine Abramcyk, the cofounder of Tenoverten told us, “Stay present because while the days move slowly, the years move quickly and you don't want to miss out.” It’s always such an important reminder to try to live in the moment and take one day at a time, especially as a mother.
As moms, the day can escape us, what is your best time-saving trick?
Using your personal hot spot on the go. Working from the car is the most efficient way to fire off emails!