Get to Know J.J. Textile: Our Story and Team

Welcome to our blog series where we explore the history and culture of J.J. Textile. In this first post, we want to share our story with you and introduce the faces behind our brand.

At J.J. Textile, we create our products out of love, with our customers in mind. This is is contrast to many businesses today which create products solely for profit, with no story or passion behind them. We believe it’s important for you to know the story behind the products you bring into your home. This series is designed to help you get to know us better because we genuinely want to share who we are and what we stand for.

Our Story

At J.J. Textile, we are passionate about creating unique, high-quality soft furnishings that bring the beauty of nature into your home. Founded by Jurate Jakstaite, our designs blend her love of nature with the comfort of natural fibres, offering timeless appeal and a calming influence for any space. Each year, Jurate adds fresh and fun designs to her collection, sharing the joy of nature-inspired creations with homes across the UK and internationally.

Before creating J.J. Textile, Jurate had recently moved to the UK and faced uncertainty about her career path. She wanted to balance being a mum with her career in the UK. At the time, she was involved in various projects for other textile companies but had not yet mustered the courage to establish her own brand. A turning point occurred when a friend suggested she start her own business. Believing that everything happens for a reason, Jurate embraced this idea and launched J.J. Textile in 2012, hitting the ground running by exhibiting at the Top Drawer tradeshow and organising her first professional photoshoot that same year.

Meet the Team

Jurate

As the heart and soul of J.J. Textile, Jurate oversees every aspect of the design process. Her deep love for nature and animals stems from her childhood in rural Lithuania, where she grew up surrounded by a menagerie of animals. Many a happy summer was spent at her grandparents’ orchard, playing and exploring the countryside (which also inspired the book ‘Where the Hares Dance’). This connection to nature and the rural landscape profoundly inspires her work. Jurate’s designs incorporate the vibrant colours of the changing seasons and the charming character of animals, bringing a touch of her “happy place” to each product.

Elena

Elena, Jurate’s beloved mother, has been a pillar of support since the beginning of Jurate’s career. A talented craftswoman, Elena is often found knitting, sewing or working on projects for her grandchildren. Within J.J. Textile, she has been indispensable, assisting Jurate with whatever she needed over the years. Today, Elena helps pack and quality-check each order, ensuring every product meets our high standards. Her unwavering support and belief in Jurate, especially during challenging times, have been instrumental to the company’s success.

Olivia

Olivia helps with the administration and day-to-day running of J.J. Textile. She also crafts our press releases and newsletters and social media posts. Working in a design-led business with a small, dedicated team means no two days are the same. She enjoys the creative aspects of her role, finding a perfect outlet for her love of writing. Her efforts help ensure smooth operations and effective communication, ensuring our customers are always in the loop with the latest news and offers.

J.J. Textile has only been possible through the support of all the people around Jurate, including her family, friends as well as local businesses. Behind the scenes, we collaborate with a handful of local businesses, whose support and services are essential to our daily operations. This strong network of support has been vital to our growth and success, allowing us to bring our passion and unique designs to life.

We hope you liked this post and thank you for taking the time to get to know us a bit better! Our next post delves deeper into our soft furnishings and what makes them unique.

Liked this post? You can learn more about Jurate and her journey as a designer in this blog post: Meet Jurate the Designer Behind J.J. Textile