(Home) Design Theory: Aeptom

Fluffy dog named Cherry The Sheepdog resting on a bed with cream sheets, eyes closed and tongue out, snuggling a gray stuffed toy. Cozy and relaxed mood. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

In Graduate School, professors love to discuss "Design Thinking." Design Thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions that might not be instantly apparent with our initial level of understanding (Dam and Siang). Design Thinking enables companies to understand consumer needs. In this series, I contacted different companies to learn how organizations applied Design Thinking. I spoke with Eden, Co-Founder of Aeptom, to understand how her company incorporates its mission and vision into its products.

Woman in black top sleeping peacefully on a light green bed with matching pillowcase, creating a calm and serene atmosphere. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

Interview with Aeptom Co-Founder Eden

Cozy bedroom with a wooden bed, white and striped pillows, green paneled wall, basket with blankets, and plant. Calm, rustic vibe. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

1. What makes Aeptom different from other companies?

Aeptom is a home goods brand specializing in bedding made exclusively from luxury-grade, toxin-free, and functional materials, such as Bamboo, Tencel Eucalyptus Lyocell, and Mulberry Silk. What truly sets us apart is our dedication to creating high-quality fabrics and addressing specific sleep challenges by leveraging the unique properties of each material. We also prioritize honesty and transparency by clearly stating the exact materials used in our products. The silk industry, for instance, remains clouded with misconceptions due to its relatively recent emergence and the complexities surrounding its various qualities and classifications. Apart from outrightly deceiving customers by passing off polyester as silk, I have also noticed some companies misrepresenting Tussah Silk or Natural Wild Silk as Mulberry Silk and selling the former at the premium price of the latter.

Two people sleeping peacefully in a bed with cream-colored sheets and pillows. The setting is calm, creating a cozy, serene mood. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

2. How has Aeptom evolved since its founding?

In 2020, Aeptom created its first small collection of bamboo sheets, duvet covers, and comforters, available in only one color and a limited range of sizes. Over the past 4+ years, we have expanded our offerings to include a broader range of materials, such as Mulberry Silk, Tencel Lyocell, Bamboo, and Long-Staple Cotton, which allows us to cater to users with different texture preferences and sleep needs. Last year, we took another leap by introducing a customization option for our Mulberry Silk-filled Duvet Insert. Customers can now choose the shell material, fill weight, dimensions, construction, and more to create a product tailored to their needs that customers use for a longer period of time.

Person in bed reading a book with "Romanesque" visible. Soft lavender sheets, relaxed mood, light, minimal room setting. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

As a small business not backed by outside funding, our growth has been modest but organic. While limited funding presents challenges in areas like marketing, it has allowed us to prioritize gradual, meaningful improvements based on customer feedback and stay focused on developing quality products.

Woman and child lying in bed with white sheets, smiling and talking. Warmly lit room with a wooden lamp on a bedside table. Cozy atmosphere. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

3. How does Aeptom incorporate its mission and vision into its products?

Our brand name, Aeptom, is inspired by the word 'epitome (of quality),' reflecting that high-quality materials will always be at the core of our operations. During product development, we dig deep into what determines top-tier fabrics and use the findings to create our own. To ensure quality, we avoid bulk purchases and custom-make fabrics, focusing on factors like yarn fineness, weaving techniques, and weft and warp counts.

Smiling woman wrapped in a white comforter, sitting on a bed. Beige walls, wicker lamp, and a cup create a cozy ambiance. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

Beyond texture, we also strongly believe in bedding's functionality. When designing our products, especially duvet inserts, and comforters, we aim to leverage the properties of different fabrics and combine them with weight designs to address common sleep issues, such as overheating.

Woman stretching in bed, under cream-colored sheets, with eyes closed. Neutral-toned room with woven lamps, creating a cozy atmosphere. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

4. What is the future of the company?

We aim to develop more bedding products to address sleep issues we have yet to tackle. We also aim to expand into non-bedding home essentials, such as sleepwear, to make staying home cozier and more enjoyable. While we take pride in our quality, we are mindful that we are still in the early stages of building recognition. Therefore, our next goal is to put more effort into marketing to bring us in front of a wider audience.

Woman in leopard print pajamas peacefully sleeps on pink sheets, hugging a pillow. The mood is calm and serene. — Image courtesy of Aeptom.

Amid all these ambitious plans, we will continue to uphold the quality of our products and customer service, which is the cornerstone of the Aeptom brand.