Jo Vandenbussche, the founder, had built a 25-year career in the textile industry when, in 2001, he suddenly found himself without a job.
He felt the urge to do something different, to represent a product he was personally passionate about. He wanted to do more with the knowledge, network, and passion he had accumulated over the years.
And so, at the age of 51, he decided to forge his own path and founded JOV, a name derived from his own initials. His wife, Mireille, was by his side from the very beginning, helping to shape this story.
During a visit to Portugal, Jo discovered a rug manufacturer in Espino, where a small workshop was producing exceptional hand-tufted rugs. This marked the start of JOV. With a focus on pure materials like 100% wool and Belgian linen, Jo created his own collection, which he sold in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia.
In 2009, JOV reached a critical turning point. Jo decided to set up his own production facility in Portugal, working with people from his trusted network. The start, however, was challenging. Despite these difficulties, orders kept coming in thanks to Jo’s commercial drive. Eventually, the production facility became fully operational, allowing JOV to return to full speed. From the very beginning, custom work was at the heart of JOV: every rug was made specifically for the client, with no stock or mass production involved.
