#67 – Forming a Global Partnership Around a Sustainable (and Luxurious) Night’s Sleep

Phoebe Yu is the CEO of Ettitude, a company that produces the softest and smoothest 100% organic, environmentally friendly bedding and sleepwear.

While shopping for her own home after moving to Melbourne, Australia, she spotted an opportunity within the luxury goods market to create products that were everything she was looking for: eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, high quality home textile options, such as bed sheets and pillowcases, for a price that matched more affordable cotton sheets.

It took years of testing materials, weaving, and dyeing techniques. But harnessing her previous decade of experience working in supply chain management and merchandising, Phoebe ultimately perfected and launched Ettitude’s innovative bamboo lyocell fabric in 2014. 

In 2018, Ettitude expanded globally by opening a Los Angeles office, which brings us to Kat Dey, who is the president and co-founder of Ettitude.

After having the best night’s sleep of her life using one of Ettitude’s duvet covers, Kat joined the company to help with the specific expansion into the U.S. market, in order to help introduce their products to the global market.

Kat, like Phoebe, is a well-accomplished entrepreneur herself. In 2012, she founded Try the World, which is a direct-to-consumer food subscription company that disrupted the global artisanal food supply chain. It was named by Cranes New York as the #3 fastest growing company in New York before it was acquired in 2017. 

Phoebe and Kat were both well-accomplished entrepreneurs in their own rights before taking on this venture together, and their experiences have made them exceptionally well-equipped to head a business like Ettitude.

Running a company that has both Australian and American offices is a unique challenge, but they have worked hard together to incorporate a culture that keeps their two offices in harmony.

In our episode, we dive into what is different about Ettitude, what is different about their trajectory, and their purpose and impact with this company as opposed to the others they have played a role in in the past.

6 Years after launch, Phoebe and Kat have turned the company into a well-oiled, planet-friendly home goods machine. From the sustainable bamboo fabric that Phoebe created, you can now pick up anything from a luxuriously soft sheet set to plush bath towels, and even cozy bedding for baby.

Not only do Phoebe and Kat strive to create quality products that serve the planet, they also use the company as a platform to truly give back and serve as an example for using business to better the world.

They are a 1% for the planet member, are official One Girl Business Crusaders, and have committed themselves to the CO2 Neutral Climate Initiative. It was truly a pleasure to speak to such exemplars in the purpose-driven space.

Want more episodes on innovative, planet-friendly products? Listen to:

• #61 – From Wall Street to B Corp: The Transition from CPA to CEO of a Thriving Conscious Company with David Kahl, CEO of Fully

• #38 – Strategically Planning to Rid the World of Single-Use Plastic, with Jim Osgood CEO of Klean Kanteen

• #12 – How to Divert Over 50,000 Plastic Bottles from Landfills While Growing a Business to $1M in Sales in 2 Years with Lindsey McCoy CEO and Co-Founder of Plaine Products