Led by founders Tamzin Van Staden and Jackie Lowe, T-Shirt Bed Co has grown from strength to strength and now has a strong base of over 30 members. Here, a dynamic team is changing the landscape for locally produced, quality bed linen. From management level to quality control, cutters and of course a team of talented seamstresses, T-Shirt Bed Co is active in all areas.
Let’s hear from the founder himself…
how did it all start?
Looking back on it now, it’s really crazy to think how we started…it was two friends with great ideas, but mostly believe that they laid the foundation for our business. There was an amazing energy between us.
We started with Tamzin’s empty bedroom and did almost everything ourselves…on a budget that was almost non-existent! We started from the very ground up – product conceptualization, branding, marketing, and at first packaging, labeling, and shipping – that gave me a hands-on understanding of the needs and complexities of the business. I was.
It took us six manufacturers to produce bed linen to our high quality standards, but even then, another complex problem always popped up out of nowhere to solve, fix, and struggle with. had.
We continued to operate out of Knysna for several years, but decided to move operations to Connecticut, move our factory in-house, and expand our temporary staff. That’s when the business really took off.
We now have a beautiful in-house manufacturing facility, a complete quality control and cutting team, and an amazing management team that pulls it all together.
We have grown from a small start-up to a well-known SA lifestyle brand with 20 @home stores nationwide.
We still believe that our success is due to the great energy of our best friends and the happiness of all our team members.
How are your products manufactured?
All of our products are manufactured in our CT factory and undergo strict quality control procedures before being packaged and shipped directly to our customers. From fabric to manufacturing, all our products are 100% made in South Africa.
What’s new in your collection?
We are also expanding into the home furnishings sector, so keep an eye out for some very exciting developments. The first additions to the new business are Hungarian goose down duvet liners and pillows. This allows a customer to buy everything he needs for his bedroom, from bed linen to innerwear, in one store and have it delivered to his home with no hassle. So many customers ask us how to get the voluminous, oversized, luxurious look that is our hallmark. We have carefully selected our line of duvets to achieve this particular look and feel.
Check out this space for exciting new products coming soon. We make sure that all our add-on products are carefully selected and manufactured only to the highest quality specifications and luxury that our customers have known us for.
What makes your product different and what are its advantages?
It is 100% non-iron and wrinkle-resistant, and is extremely comfortable to sleep on. Most people say that once they sleep on our bedding, they can never go back to regular bedding. Some mothers also report that their little ones sleep better and longer than before. For us personally, the wrinkle-free factor is huge, and there’s nothing worse than waking up with wrinkled sheets that look like you’ve been sleeping, even if they’ve just been put in bed.
Our bedding looks perfect after a full night’s sleep and really gives your room that “new linen changed” feel every day. And, of course, comfort is next level. I can truly say there’s nothing more satisfying than changing into Fresh Strong after a hot bath and slipping into matching t-shirt bedding.
All our OCD dreams come true.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Inspiration comes from so many places…we often take a feeling and do it. It may sound strange, but let me elaborate.
For example, heading into 2023, I think most South Africans in general will settle down a bit and lead a slower pace of life after the turbulent years of the last few years.
This sentiment drives us to seek softer tones, gentler lines, and the need for a soft, serene home sanctuary. All the colors we seek and the clothes we design reflect this need for greater comfort, simplicity of life and quality over quantity. On a less philosophical side, sometimes we just see colors that stand out. It’s usually a very unusual and unexpected color that turns out to be right.
We also look for inspiration in our everyday lives…what are our needs? What makes our lives more luxurious, more comfortable and more beautiful?
We strive to meet the needs of busy humans…high quality products, comfortable day and night clothing, and bedding that transforms our sleeping experience into the best possible. And colors that bring us joy!
What drives your passion in children and adults?
Again, we pursue our needs as busy modern people and design our product range around comfort and versatility.
Most of our Strong range can be worn as easy daywear with sneakers, dressed up for a night out, or as luxurious sleepwear.
Our ultimate harem is a perfect example of that…we wear sneakers to school runs and are literally stopped every day, or wear heels and linen blouses for a sophisticated evening look. Or just wear it to sleep!
We focus on quality, not quantity, primarily offering clothing that keeps you comfortable and stylish through all aspects of your busy lifestyle.
How do you stay ahead in a highly competitive market?
We listen to our customers! We track the trend patterns of our buying customers to see what their buying behavior is like and we tend to focus on the colors and types of clothing the market is looking for. Most importantly, we both feel that if we can focus on quality and beautiful products above all else, we will always be ahead of our competitors.
We never compromise on our high quality standards and aim to not only follow trends but also meet needs. This is reflected in a range of luxury products, capsule wardrobes and clothing that are timeless and suitable for all ages and body types.
any collaboration are you currently involved?
Yes, check out our designer scatter cushion collection! Designed in collaboration with one of SA’s top print designers and trendsetters, Amanda Duplessis.
What do you have planned for the winter collection?
I can’t say too much, but I hope you’ll notice that we’ve added some very exciting new additions to the STRONG range.
Check out the latest product range available from t-shirt bed company And decide for yourself!
