Michelle Bui
Emmanuella Gaitano
Carlos Fraga de la Viesca
toheeb agboola
Maduabuchi Anikpe
Julián Nadal
Grant MacEwan University
Universidad de Navarra
University Of South Wales
Yang Hoong
Isabel Rodriguez Tejedo
Liam Newton
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Pilleaux, a small Canadian enterprise, was founded by CEO Sophie Jackson, who had experience addressing the persistent travel challenge of mitigating high airline baggage fees while refusing to compromise comfort. Drawing on her business background, Jackson conceptualized a single travel accessory that could serve multiple purposes and circumvent personal item restrictions. This concept materialized as Pilleaux, a multifunctional carry-on bag designed to double as a travel pillow. The design prioritizes both practicality and elegance: the product is constructed from washable, durable materials, including 100% cotton canvas and bouclé, positioning it as a sustainable, long-lasting alternative to disposable fast-fashion travel accessories. Through this innovative approach, Pilleaux directly addresses Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) via ethical manufacturing partnerships and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting durability and multi-functionality to combat systemic travel waste.
The Pilleaux pillow bags are a multifunctional travel accessory that merges ergonomic design, practicality, and sustainability. Conceived by founder Sophie Jackson, the innovation arose from her frustration with airline baggage restrictions and travel discomfort. The carry-on transforms seamlessly between a bag and a pillow, offering adjustable straps and modular compartments that accommodate various travel scenarios while maintaining comfort and style. Its design emphasizes inclusivity, usability, and resource efficiency, making it a pioneering travel solution. Constructed from durable cotton canvas and bouclé fabrics, the product stands out for its longevity, washability, and minimal environmental impact. These materials reduce waste by ensuring a long product lifespan, thereby discouraging the frequent replacement of travel bags, a major contributor to textile waste. Pilleaux's ethical manufacturing partnerships guarantee fair wages and decent labour conditions, fulfilling UN SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). In design and impact, the product aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by championing multi-functionality and conscious consumption. The innovation challenges the fast-fashion culture of disposable accessories, promoting a "buy once, use for years" philosophy. Ultimately, Pilleaux's travel bags go beyond being a travel utility; they function as a statement of sustainable living. Through intelligent design, ethical production, and global awareness, it symbolizes how modern innovation can balance consumer comfort with environmental responsibility.
The inspiration for Pilleaux was born directly from the personal and repeated frustrations of its founder, Sophie Jackson, a frequent traveller. Because of her "frustrations with airline baggage restrictions and fees," she highlighted how "every trip felt like a constant stress of packing light enough to avoid extra costs, yet still trying to be comfortable while travelling." This firsthand experience with a widespread problem was the primary catalyst. Sophie combined these personal pain points with her business acumen and a strong entrepreneurial drive to be her own boss, not wanting to work for someone else. She identified a clear gap in the market for a functional product that enhanced the overall quality of the travel experience. Her vision was to create "something stylish, functional, and useful, a travel solution that saves money and makes travelling less stressful and comfortable." This clear vision led to the core, innovative concept of a product that could intelligently double as a practical bag and a comfortable pillow. The entire creation was hands-on, driven by Sophie herself, stemming from a desire to build a tangible solution for herself and others. The motivation was deeply rooted in empowerment: to give travellers freedom from traditional baggage systems' logistical and financial burdens. The purpose of removing barriers to comfortable and stress-free exploration continues to be the central mission and driving force behind the company's operations and growth.
Pilleaux’s operational strategy successfully transcends the standard for-profit paradigm, centring on a mission to redefine consumption patterns within the travel sector fundamentally. The company demonstrates that commercial success is achievable while prioritizing purpose, allowing the innovation to carve out a strong niche market with no direct competitors, thus establishing an entirely new product category. This ethical foundation is a core driver of long-term economic stability, contributing to robust customer loyalty and high employee satisfaction. The company's impact is measurable across environmental, social, and economic dimensions: Environmentally, the product’s inherent durability and washability significantly reduce textile waste and resource depletion, extending product lifespan and contributing directly to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Socially, Pilleaux actively supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through transparent partnerships with ethical manufacturing suppliers, ensuring fair labour standards and safe working conditions, and fostering social inclusion via collaboration with women-led business communities. Economically, this unique value proposition, which merges utility with ethics, has accelerated brand recognition and boosted consumer confidence—validating the growth potential through high-profile partnerships and market exposure (such as outreach from Dragon's Den Canada). Thus, Pilleaux exemplifies balanced progress, illustrating how ecological mindfulness and social empowerment coexist within a sustainable, high-growth enterprise.
The pillow bag is central to Pilleaux's growing brand identity, providing a unique market advantage by blending premium functionality with responsible business ethics. This formula resonates deeply with conscious consumers and drives sales growth and brand loyalty. Financially, the strategic focus on ethical sourcing and durable materials ensures environmental integrity and operational efficiency by reducing production waste and maximizing cost-effectiveness through minimized returns and replacements. This market success is underpinned by the founder, Sophie Jackson, whose personal, mission-driven leadership style, characterized by mindfulness and integrity (a concept aligning with "Quantum Leadership"), ensures that Pilleaux consistently upholds its ethical commitments even as the business scales. This alignment of innovative product, efficient operations, and values-driven leadership transforms Pilleaux from a niche concept into a credible emerging brand, positioning it as a leading role model for sustainable entrepreneurship, thereby contributing directly to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Pilleaux’s innovation operates at the intersection of social progress and environmental restoration. Its primary contribution lies in promoting responsible consumer behaviour, reducing the frequency of purchases through the durable design of washable, long-lasting products. Socially, Pilleaux’s operations benefit communities through empowerment initiatives and fair labour standards. Jackson has also made community empowerment a key point of Pilleaux’s mission. She regularly partners with women-led organizations and events to promote wellness, entrepreneurship, and empowerment. The company has already seen real growth: it has hosted successful pop-up stores across Canada, expanded into the U.S, and even caught the attention of Dragon’s Den, where Jackson is invited to pitch her business in May 2026. Environmentally, the products avoid reliance on synthetic fabrics, instead using biodegradable cotton and bouclé, which limit microplastic pollution and support circular production systems. Manufacturing partners adhere to low-impact standards, minimizing carbon emissions and energy waste, while ethical supply chains favour fair-trade compliance. Each element of the product’s lifecycle, from material sourcing to post-use, is consciously structured to ensure minimal ecological disruption.
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Sophie Jackson, Founder and CEO
Pilleaux is a Canadian startup specialising in sustainable and ergonomic travel accessories. Founded by entrepreneur Sophie Jackson, the company designs adaptive carry-ons intended to make travelling easier, more comfortable, and environmentally responsible. Each product is made from durable, ethically sourced materials, combining functionality, long-term usability, and minimalist design. The business seeks to bridge comfort and sustainability by embedding responsible production practices into every stage of its supply chain.