Headed by founders Tamzin van Staden and Jackie Lowe, T-Shirt Bed Co. has grown from strength to strength, now with a solid base of over 30 members. Here a dynamic team is changing the landscape for quality, locally produced bed linen. From level management to a team of quality controllers, cutters and of course the talented seamstresses, T- Shirt Bed Co is on its way to places!
Let’s hear from the founders themselves…
How did it all start?
When we look back now, it’s really crazy to think about how we got started… Two friends with a great idea but mostly, amazing energy between us that we believe was the foundation of our business.
We started out in Tamzin’s spare bedroom and did it all ourselves…with almost zero budget to boot! From conceptualizing products, branding and marketing to initially packaging, labeling and shipping, we started really in the trenches but it gave us such a working understanding of the needs and intricacies of our business.
It took 6 manufacturers before our bed linens were made to our high quality standards, and even then, there was always another complication that appeared out of nowhere that had to be sorted out, fixed and removed!
We continued to operate for a few years from Knysna until we decided to move the operation to CT, take our factory in-house and expand our staff team, and that’s when the business really took off.
We currently have a beautiful in-house manufacturing facility, complete quality control and parts teams as well as our fantastic management team that keeps it all together.
We’ve grown from a small startup to a well-known SA lifestyle brand and have expanded to 20 home stores across the country.
We continue to attribute our success to the incredible energy we have as close friends and the happiness of all our team members.
How are your products manufactured?
Our entire range is manufactured in our own CT factory where it goes through stringent quality control procedures before moving on to packaging and dispatching directly to our customers. From the fabric to the manufacturing, our entire range is 100% locally made in South Africa.
What’s new in your group?
We are expanding in the home furnishing sector so stay tuned for some very exciting developments. The first addition to this new venture are the Hungarian duvets and pillows. This gives our customers the opportunity to purchase the complete bedroom complement from bed linen to undergarments at a single store and have it delivered to their door without any hassle. Lots of customers ask us how to get the luxurious oversized look we’re known for and we’ve carefully selected our comforter set to get that special look and feel!
Watch this space for some exciting new products coming soon. We make sure that all of our add-ons are handpicked and manufactured with only the highest quality and luxury specifications that our customers know!
What makes your products different and what are some of the benefits?
Aside from being 100% non-iron and non-wrinkle, they are very comfortable to sleep on. Most people say that once they fall asleep on our mattress, they can never go back to regular bedding again. We also have moms who report that their little ones are sleeping better and for longer than before. For us personally, the wrinkle-free item is huge, and there is nothing worse than waking up to wrinkled, sleeping sheets even if they were just put on the bed.
Our bedding looks perfect after a good night’s sleep and really saves the room that “just changed the linen” every day. And of course comfort is next level! I can truly say there’s nothing quite as satisfying as stepping into a refreshing Strong after a hot shower and climbing into the matching bedding and T-shirt!
All our obsessive-compulsive disorder dreams come true!
Where do you look for inspiration?
Inspiration comes from many places… we often feel it and work with it. I know this sounds strange but let me explain!
For example, coming into 2023, I think most South Africans in general are enjoying a bit of a cool and slow ride after the past few high-intensity years.
This feeling leads us to seek softer tones, gentle lines, and the need for a soft, calm home retreat. The colors we look for and the clothes we design will all reflect this need for more comfort, simplicity of living, and quality over quantity. On the less philosophical side, sometimes we see a color that just stands out—usually one that’s unusual, unexpected, and we know it’s true!
We also seek inspiration from everyday life… What are our needs? What will make our life more luxurious, comfortable and beautiful?
We try to meet the needs we have as busy humans…. Quality products, comfortable and wearable clothing from day to night, and bedding that transforms our sleeping experience into the best possible one! And the colors that bring us joy!
What drives the passion behind your kids’ and adult’s ranges?
Once again, looking out for our needs as busy modern humans… we design our collection with comfort and multi-application at its core.
The majority of our robust collection can be worn as easy daywear with sneakers, dressed up for a night out or as luxurious sleepwear!
Our ultimate harem is the perfect example of this…we wear them on school rides with sneakers and stop literally every day, throw on a pair of heels and a linen blouse for a sophisticated night look or just wear them to bed!
Our focus is on quality, not quantity, and mostly apparel that takes you through all aspects of a busy lifestyle in comfort and style.
How do you stay ahead of the curve in a highly competitive market?
We listen to our customers! We follow the trend patterns of our buying customers to know their purchasing behavior and tend to focus on the colors and types of clothing that our market is looking for. Most importantly, we feel that if we can focus on a beautiful, quality product above all else, we will always be ahead of the competition.
We never compromise on our high quality standards and aim to meet needs rather than just keep up with trends. This translates into a range of luxury products, wardrobe pieces and timeless ready-to-wear that appeal to all ages and body types.
no cooperation Are you currently subscribed to?
Yes, check out our collection of designer scatter pillows… co-designed with Amanda Du Plessis, one of SA’s premiere and premiere print designers.
What do you have in store for your winter collections?
We can’t say much, you’ll just have to keep your eyes peeled but we have some very exciting new additions to the STRONG collection!
Discover the latest collections now available from The T-Shirt Bed Co and decide for yourself!