Start-up Spotlight: Designing Forward: Start-up Innovations in Sustainable Baby Textiles

In a traditionally slow-moving industry like baby textiles, vos&bos — a Dutch design-led start-up — is rethinking how products are made, used, and valued. Founded by two mothers — an architect and a former engineer/consultant, the brand was born out of a simple but persistent frustration: why are truly sustainable and functional baby sleep products so hard to find?

In this talk, Kacey Ji shares how constraints like high MOQs, rigid supply chains, and outdated design practices became starting points for innovation. By partnering with manufacturers in new ways — using undyed fabrics, certified deadstock, and material-led design — vos&bos creates products that are safer, more adaptable, and more sustainable without compromising quality. From versatile sleeping bags to ramie fitted sheets ideal for summer heat, vos&bos explores new ways of working in a long-established industry — with eyes on traditional, natural materials and a drive to unlock new applications. 

As a start-up, vos&bos brings fresh perspective to the market through smart, user-centered design. Sustainability is not just a label but a product development method — one that respects natural resources, empowers parents, and creates better experiences for babies. With agility, empathy, and a commitment to functional beauty, the brand exemplifies how small players can reshape old industries from the ground up.