Q & A |
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company .” He understood why I was confused , and couldn ’ t wait to tell me how little thread count has to do with the comfort and quality of abed sheet . We felt that we could do better than the status quo , making it easy to purchase great quality bedding . So , even though we didn ’ t yet have a company name , the idea for Boll & Branch was born . |
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YOUR PRODUCTS ARE MADE FROM ORGANIC COTTON . WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORGANIC AND REGULAR COTTON ?
SCOTT : In theory , cotton is cotton . However , when it comes to cotton , it ’ s everything you can ’ t see that makes all the difference . Cotton is grown worldwide , but a great majority of the cotton used in creating textiles originates in the developing world on small-holder farms where safety standards can be quite a bit different from larger-scale American cotton farms . When we purchase certified organic cotton from our farming partners in India , we know that the men and women responsible for growing the crops have not been exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides . Further , we also are proud to know that the organic cotton farming techniques of our partners provide both health and financial stability for their entire communities .
YOUR PRODUCT LABELS STATE “ MADE ETHICALLY IN INDIA .” CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND HOW YOU WORK TOGETHER WITH COTTON MILLS IN INDIA ?
SCOTT : In 2013 , we began working with a small-but-talented textile manufacturer in Kolkata , India . Where the larger mills had no interest in allowing us to inspect their facilities , trace their supply chains , etc ., this mill was quite the opposite in just about every way . In many ways , their owner , Rajat , taught Missy and I the textile business , and worked tirelessly with us to make absolutely spectacular products . And , like us , Rajat has a
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deep compassion for people — he treats his employees like family . With Rajat ’ s support , Boll & Branch became the first bedding brand that had ever been certified by Fair Trade USA , which is something we are very proud of .
YOUR WEBSITE SAYS YOUR SOLID HEMMED SHEET SET IS THE SOFTEST IN THE WORLD . WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES THEM SO COMFORTABLE ?
MISSY : When we were creating our hemmed sheets , which is our original and still most popular style , we must have gone through hundreds of prototypes before we landed on what we call our “ Signature Soft ” weave . Obviously , starting with the highest grade of organic cotton we could find has alot to do with the softness , but we ’ ve spent a great deal of time experimenting with various thread counts to devise the optimal product weight and density . So , not only are they incredibly soft , but they keep you cool — meaning that you don ’ t sweat .
CAN YOU TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE ITEM FROM THE BOLL & BRANCH BRAND ?
MISSY : I love our “ Signature Soft ” sheets . Not only are they still our bestsellers , but I knew I had never slept on any sheets that soft before , and thought that we had something very special to share with the world .
SCOTT : That ’ s easy : Our new line of down pillows . Not only is it the first pillow that I ’ ve ever used that frees me of any neck pain , but I ’ ve had a
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FAMILYFIRSTAs parents to Sophie , 14 , Brooke , 11 , and Hailey , 11 , the Tannens knew that starting Boll & Branch would be a family adventure . “ Sophie has visited our factories in India with us , Hailey has agreat eye for detail and helped Missy perfect our color palate before we launched , and Brooke has always been our ‘ softness detector ,’ and has a really great ability to judge the ‘ hand feel ’ of products ,” Scott says . “ Of course , Boll & Branch is now ateam of 30-plus people , but the girls are absolutely a part of this team . My hope is that the girls have seen Missy and I chase our dream and build something that plenty of people doubted our ability to create . They know that we ’ ve been successful only because we ’ re hard-workers and hustlers — not because of any advantage we had in the market — and Ihope that they realize that they ’ re capable of accomplishing anything they are willing to work towards .” |
front-row seat to see Missy and her team spending nearly three years engineering and designing something that ’ s quite remarkable on the inside , too . I ’ d challenge anyone to find a better pillow at any price than our medium / firm down pillow ... though I know that Missy prefers our soft . They ’ re amazing !
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS ?
SCOTT : There ’ s no “ off button !” Particularly in the early days , when you start a business and something needs to be done , there isn ’ t anyone
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BED : COURTESY OFBOLL & BRANCH |