For Charmaine Lang, founder of The Madison Collection, the new Wabi Sabi collection is more than just a fresh offering in hospitality-grade linens—it’s a soulful evolution of her design ethos. “I’ve been working on Wabi Sabi for four to five years,” Lang shares. “The reason was, I wanted to go thinner than our Bordado collection, and the dyes needed to be developed resistant to fade.”
Charmaine Lang, Founder, The Madison Collection with son Gilad Lang, CEO; photo by Sebastian Braggaar
Thinner wasn’t just a pursuit of elegance—it was a pursuit of sustainability. In an industry where heavier often signals higher quality, Lang has always challenged the standard. Traditional hospitality towels weigh in at 17 pounds per dozen. The Madison Collection’s earlier Bordado line disrupted that at 8.3 pounds. With Wabi Sabi, she pushed even further, not for the sake of minimalism alone, but to reduce the environmental footprint of every wash, every load, every shipment. “The factory said they couldn’t get it any thinner,” Lang recalls. “I said, I need thinner. They said it was impossible.”
A Lucky Accident
Then came a lucky accident: a mis-loaded cone during production that unintentionally opened up the weave. What resulted was a featherlight towel with the elegance of gauze and the resilience of terry—exactly what Lang envisioned. At just 7.2 pounds per dozen, Wabi Sabi is among the lightest hospitality-grade terry towels on the market.
But the innovation didn’t stop at texture and weight.
“How can we add more value to our spa and hospitality clients and elevate their guests’ experience?” That’s the question The Madison Collection set out to answer. In a market where neutrals like white, grey, and sand have long been the go-to for spa linens—and The Madison Collection’s own best-sellers—they made a bold, forward-thinking move: introducing a stylish black and a warm, rich copper. Both hues are bleach- and fade-resistant, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals that pollute waterways—a win for both the planet and the aesthetic integrity of high-end spas.
The Wabi Sabi collection is a continuation of The Madison Collection’s commitment to sustainable luxury.
Journey to Japan
Wabi Sabi in warm copper; photo by Russell Smith
“I couldn’t put out a Wabi Sabi collection without going to Japan,” Lang says. Her journey led her through Tokyo’s department stores and into quiet suburban streets and workshops. She found inspiration in the weave of a basket, in pottery, and in a simple ensemble worn by a Japanese artisan. That image—minimal, functional, elegant—became the foundation for the Wabi Sabi robe. “Five months later, the image of him in his shop just popped into my head. The neck crossed over high on his body. It was very simple—and that’s what we did with the sample robe.”
The Wabi Sabi collection is a continuation of The Madison Collection’s commitment to sustainable luxury. Made from 100-percent Brazilian cotton, the towels, robes, and spa mats are part of their eco-luxury ethos: ultra-lightweight, highly absorbent, space-saving, and kind to the planet. At just 280 grams per square meter, these linens take up a third of the storage space and allow operators to launder more than twice the number of towels per load compared to traditional options.
Wabi Sabi isn’t just a look—it’s a mindset. It’s rooted in Japanese minimalism and harmony, where beauty lies in imperfection and simplicity is celebrated. The Madison Collection’s newest creation invites you to rethink luxury—not as something heavy or ornate, but as something light, effortless, and full of soul.
Mary Bemis
A pioneering voice in spa and wellness journalism, Mary Bemis has spent four decades chronicling, championing, and helping shape the modern spa industry. As Founder and Editorial Director of Insider’s Guide to Spas, she brings a distinctive editorial perspective informed by a career that has helped define the language and landscape of spa media. Mary launched American Spa magazine in 1997, co-founded Organic Spa, and helped launch Luxury SpaFinder and NewBeauty. Her industry leadership extends to board service with ISPA, NYSPA, and WSPA, the latter two organizations she helped establish. She has also served as Special Advisor to the Balneology Association of North America. Today, she serves as Special Advisor to Global Wellness Day and sits on the board of the International Sauna Aid Foundation. Recognized among Medika Life’s Top 30 Influential Voices Transforming Wellness, Mary is also a recipient of the prestigious ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award, an inaugural Folio Top Women in Media honoree, and an American Spa Wonder Woman of Wellness. Her mission remains as steadfast as ever: to keep spa culture alive and relevant, honor its roots, challenge its shortcomings, and inspire an industry to live up to its promise.
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