Lauren Bush Lauren Opens Up on Motherhood, Her Houston Favorites and Her FEED Mission

Lauren Bush Lauren founded her impact-driven lifestyle brand FEED in 2007 after seeing the reality of childhood hunger firsthand while traveling with the World Food Programme during her college years at Princeton. She conceived of the first FEED bag as a tangible way to get her friends involved in the cause — each bag is emblazoned with a dedicated number of school meals donated with proceeds from the purchase.

Today, FEED has collaborations with Polo Ralph Lauren and National Geographic and previously partnered with West Elm, Williams Sonoma, and Target.

At the time we spoke to Lauren, 107,532,896 meals had been provided, with many more on the meal-counter by the time our November issue of PaperCity, where this interview first appeared, hit stands.

FEED suppers, essentially altruistic dinner parties, are thrown from coast to coast by friends and supporters to help the cause.

To this end, Lauren launches the first FEED collection of artisan-made home goods, available on feedprojects.com, starting last week.

Designed in-house and handcrafted by artisans across the global, from Thailand to Brooklyn, the rustic, hand-loomed linens, aprons for adults and children, ceramics, and wooden serveware, are designed to make you want to throw the next FEED supper.

Lauren, who was raised in Houston, says philanthropy and public service were always a part of life — her grandparents are the late President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, her uncle is President George W. Bush, and her mother, Sharon Bush, worked for decades to bring resources to impoverished woman and children. Her father, Neil Bush, who lives in Houston, is chairman of Points of Light nonprofit.

Through FEED, Lauren is focused on feeding impoverished children, but with young children of her own with husband David Lauren (son of Ralph Lauren and an RL exec), she says motherhood has definitely made it more personal.

“It’s bright it home in a new way. You spend so much of your time and attention on what you are feeding your children, their nutrition, and wanting to give them the best possible start in life. And to translate that to the millions of moms around the world who can’t do that — who want to, but can’t provide for their kids — is heartbreaking,” she tells PaperCity.

“The birth lottery really rings true. You might be born into a place where your next meal just isn’t a given.”

PaperCity chats with Lauren about current inspiration, must-listen podcasts, and everyday face oil.

Bedside reading.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo.

Grooming rituals.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil and Goop Luminous Melting Cleanser.

One thing you keep in mind when getting dressed.

“Will this outfit give me confidence and comfort as I go about my day?”

Guilty pleasure.

Netflix.

Go-to Houston spots.

Tiny Boxwood’s, Memorial Park, and The Galleria.

Current inspirations.

I’ve been inspired by the On Being podcast about spirituality, and Greta Thunberg and all the young people who are taking a stand for the environment.