Why this Singapore mattress honcho thinks that sleep is the new status symbol

Luxury mattresses may well become the new status symbol — alongside European sports cars and coveted designer bags — as more Singaporeans happily shell out five to six figures for blissful sleep. They recognise that the combination of meticulous craftsmanship with the most sumptuous natural materials, when done right, fulfils their quest for exquisite rest. 

When Kenny Tang, the 56-year-old general manager of Luxury Mattress Collection, first introduced luxury beds to Singapore 27 years ago, “nobody had heard of handmade, customised mattresses”, with many baulking at the cost.

Today, the sleep boutique showcases mattresses by Auping (Dutch), recognised for its innovation in adjustable beds and sustainable principles; Treca (French), popular for its striking design; and Vispring (British), arguably the Rolls-Royce of beds and long-favoured by the Royal Family. Currently, his most expensive bed comes with a $180,000 price tag.

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Other brands have since muscled into the luxury bed segment: Duxiana (Swedish), Hästens (Swedish), which enjoyed momentary pop-culture fame in Netflix’s Emily in Paris, and Savoir (British).

Over the decades, Tang has observed a paradigm shift: A good night’s slumber isn’t a sign of weakness but something to be proud of; an indication that you’re restored and rejuvenated — and ready to take on the world.

After all, the average person spends a third of their lifetime splayed out on their bed in slumber. There are few better ways to recharge than with the pleasure of an inviting and, at times, deeply personal mattress. A customer once custom-ordered a 2m by 2m Vispring mattress costing $120,000, complete with his name stitched.

While investing in luxe mattresses is becoming more commonplace, comfort must always be the top priority, Tang stresses, citing studies showing how bad sleep weakens the immune system, impairs learning and memory, and contributes to depression and other mood and mental disorders. 

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“Many of our clients come to us with a set of preferences and/or concerns such as snoring, allergies, and aches, especially lower back pain.” Also, not all luxury mattresses are created equal, so due diligence is required. Price “must and should not” be the only factor when choosing the bedroom’s centrepiece, Tang says. 

“My job is to educate and help them choose the best sleeping solution to improve their quality of sleep, taking their individual preferences and needs into consideration.” 

Tang himself used to have shoulder and hip issues arising from a too-firm mattress. The physical agony dissipated after he switched to a more pliable one that “I first loved, but the pillow top lost its softness after six months, and I developed a backache,” he recalls. That experience sparked his search for optimal sleep options — and Luxury Mattress Collection is the fruition of that determined effort.