Iconic designs Gijs van der Sluis inspire family to create sustainable furniture brand

Design in Box makes statement against 'fast furniture'

April 20, 2023

'Sofa bed model 540' by Dutch furniture maker Gijs van der Sluis may ring a bell with vintage enthusiasts. This sleek and sophisticated design from 1960 can be ingeniously transformed from sofa to bed with one hand movement. Because this 'midcentury modern' gem looks so contemporary, it remains a coveted item on the second-hand market. It is precisely this timeless aesthetic (which characterizes his entire repertoire) that inspired some of Gijs van der Sluis' family members to create the new furniture brand Design in Box. "We create affordable design with a nod to grandfather's iconic designs but with the addition of circular innovations," explains founder Pim van der Sluis.
Click HERE for images (vintage designs, old sketches,...)

Design in Box stands for timeless, modular furniture with smart design: all parts are replaceable, allowing you to enjoy your furniture for generations. The brand was born from VDS Inbuco, a renowned family business that has been producing furniture for three generations. However, the company, which Gijs van der Sluis started up just after the war in 1946, initially had nothing to do with the interior design sector.

"My grandfather developed and manufactured machine parts for the cigar industry in the Netherlands," explains grandson Pim van der Sluis. "So he did specialize in metalworking, but the company did not immediately focus on the interior design industry. It was only because there was an explicit demand for furniture that same year that he started designing and producing chairs. In terms of design and architecture, my grandfather was a complete autodidact, but his passion for technology and the high quality standards he set for himself and his employees resulted in numerous successful designs that he released under his own name. In addition, he also produced - as we still do with VDS Inbuco - for other Dutch furniture brands and supported the development process."

Design in Box's sustainable furniture is a clear nod to the renowned designs of grandfather Gijs van der Sluis. Here you can see the No13 lounge chair from Design in Box (left) and the vintage design it was inspired by (right).

Gijs van der Sluis focused on contemporary, functional and rock-solid designs, making him a forerunner in sustainable design. In fact, his designs are so timeless that they still fit into any interior. Therefore, some family members decided to continue his vision with Design in Box as a tribute to their late grandfather. The classic aesthetic of Gijs van der Sluis' designs from the iconic 1960s is changed as little as possible, but Design in Box breathes new life into each piece of furniture by working with replaceable parts and recycled materials.

From left to right: Niels, Nina and Pim van der Sluis

"Our mission is to reduce the growing waste mountain, which is largely caused by the furniture industry," Pim explains. "Our high quality and affordable designer furniture is modular based on separate parts so that you can, for example, replace a chair leg or frame over time. So you don't have to throw away your table, sofa or chair if, for example, an armrest breaks after a few years. We hope that this ability to 'switch parts' will eventually result in a 'mentality switch' among consumers who often still unconsciously associate themselves with fast-furniture," says Pim van der Sluis.

Gijs van der Sluis (1922-2016)
1946: founding 'Van der Sluis Stalen Meubelen'
1960: launching iconic design '540 sofa bed'
1990: recognition 'Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau'
Until 2000: involved within the company together with his 2 brothers Leo & Theo, after which it was taken over by the next generation.
2023: VDS Inbuco (parent company behind Design in Box) has now grown into a modern company with 80 employees and production locations in the Netherlands & Germany.

Each Design in Box piece of furniture is (dis)assembleable, allowing it to be shipped to you compactly and efficiently and allowing you to replace each part over time!

High-res footage can be found HERE (packshots & atmospheric images).

Would you like an interview with founder Pim van der Sluis about Design in Box? Would you like more info, are you looking for additional imagery, do you have a great idea for a collaboration or would you like to borrow furniture for a photo shoot, event or TV show? Feel free to give me a call as well!

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Iconic designs Gijs van der Sluis inspire family to create sustainable furniture brand

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