Talking home linen and décor with Martha’s Linen |18 August 2017

Owned by sisters Cindy Salgado and Celine Labrosse, Martha’s Linen came into operation in 2013 and is based at the Mahé Joinery Building at Providence. Their main reason for opening the shop is to cater for the needs of quality home décor and linen in Seychelles, for walk-in customers as well as for the hospitality and yachting industry.

Martha’s Linen specialises primarily in selling table, bathroom and bedroom linen, as well as home décor accessories. Products are sourced from Seychelles, South Africa, Turkey, France, India and the United States. Their choice of suppliers is influenced greatly by their suppliers’ Corporate Social Responsibility towards the environment or society as a whole.

When asked what inspires their choice of products, Cindy and Celine say that “quality is paramount” and explain that when choosing their products “we always consider the emotional response of our customers. For example with candles: will it invoke a sense of tranquillity, joy or pure freshness? This by far has been one of our most challenging tasks because we value customer satisfaction and want them to be happy with their purchase”.

The products at Martha’s Linen are inspired by the sisters’ own travel experiences and “the beauty of the Seychelles islands – the beach, the ocean, the sense of peace and comfort, greatly influence our choice of products”.

A favourite of Martha’s Linen clients is the home décor accessories. “We strive to differentiate from the mainstream market and find unique products. The search for new products never stops. We do our utmost to listen to our customers’ recommendations and needs, after all they come first.” 

In explaining their beliefs for the best way to decorate a home, Cindy and Celine say that they always believe that less is more and that de-cluttering can be therapeutic. Additionally, they feel that “the natural aspect of the islands is a wonderful complement to any home in the Seychelles; it is always great to incorporate nature when decorating your home”.

In giving advice for the basics of home décor, the sisters encourage people “to stick to a neutral colour palette because one can always add on to that. We are more biased towards soothing colours such as mint, beige, whites, light blue, greys, aqua etc - colours that will invoke a sense of serenity when you walk into your home. A nice bouquet of flowers on the dining table or kitchen counter/island is always cheerful and adds a burst of colour in the room”.

When asked for their recommendations for decorating local houses, Cindy and Celine point out that “the Seychelles has a warm climate so we encourage our clients to always use cotton bed-sheets, especially percale cotton for its ability to keep the bed cool. Additionally, when a house is less cluttered, it allows for greater airflow. We strongly believe that ultimately, one’s home should be a place of serenity and calm and it is up to each individual to create that space”.

When it comes to ensuring that bed linen, towels and table linen are kept fresh and in good quality, Martha’s Linen advise against using harsh chemicals as these could be detrimental to the quality and life of the fabric. Since home décor accessories are very low maintenance, they feel that simple dusting works perfectly.

For those who want some advice on home linen and décor, for example colour coordination, both Cindy and Celine are happy to offer their guidance to clients in any way that they need to ensure that they will be happy with their purchase.

For further information, Martha’s Linen can be contacted on Facebook or 4 37 33 39 or marthaslinen@gmail.com.