Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem does Jambo solve?
Julia Seiss, founder and CEO of Jambo: Jambo is a sustainable brand for handmade children’s clothing. We offer cross-generational and cross-cultural work opportunities and help address age-related poverty and social isolation by providing seniors and people with a migration background with meaningful and paid employment.
Munich Startup: But that already exists, doesn’t it!
Julia Seiss: Of course there is sustainable children’s fashion, but at Jambo we combine local production with social integration. Our products are not only environmentally friendly, but also create social added value – and there can never be too many social projects. Plus, we try to act sustainably in all areas: we reuse packaging boxes, deliver within Munich using the U-Bahn, and use only Oeko-Tex certified fabrics.
Social integration in anonymous urban society with Jambo
Munich Startup: What’s your founding story?
Julia Seiss: Jambo emerged from the desire to create social integration in the form of cross-cultural and cross-generational exchange in an increasingly anonymous society, while countering the high cost pressures in major cities. Through our passion for sewing, we have a strong affinity for sustainable and handmade fashion. And what’s better than combining things you care about.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Julia Seiss: The biggest challenge was combining craftsmanship and social integration while simultaneously ensuring sustainable materials and fair production conditions.
Munich Startup: How is business going?
Julia Seiss: Since Jambo is still a young startup, we are currently focusing on expanding our production and distributing our clothing through online sales and local channels. In one year we want to have built a stable distribution network. In five years we plan to be known throughout Germany. It would be nice if more locations of this project emerged in Germany.
Munich: ideal location for startups with social and sustainable focus
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup hub so far?
Julia Seiss: Munich is an ideal location for startups with a social and sustainable focus. Thanks to programs like the Munich Impact Incubator, we receive valuable support and access to a great community. Additionally, Munich residents place a high value on sustainability, which has greatly boosted interest in Jambo.
Munich Startup: Outsource or do it yourself?
Julia Seiss: We rely on local production in Munich to ensure the highest quality and fair working conditions. All our products are manufactured in Munich, where we sublease space in a sewing school that is not used during the day.
