Hästens: The Best Sleep of Your Life
It was tough to pull off, but we somehow managed to stay awake when checking out the newest, most comfortable bedding at this year’s Dwell on Design conference in Downtown Los Angeles. There’s just something about Hästens’ classic “Blue Check” pattern that begs you to kick your feet up and relax…
Although the Swedish brand has a coolly contemporary look, its roots can be traced all the way back to 1852. The company was founded after a 22-year-old Pehr Adolf, then a saddle maker’s apprentice, was awarded his certificate as a master saddler by the King of Sweden. “Alongside saddles and harnesses, the saddler’s tasks include making the finest horse-tail hair mattresses and leather goods,” the company website reads. In 19th-century Europe, highly-skilled craftsmen were often speedy and passionate about their mattress-making work.
Six generations later, Hästens still prides itself on the quality of its products. The company says: “We only use what we consider to be the finest natural materials. Sustainably produced and ethically sourced — so that those materials can be given a new life one day. A product that comes from nature wants to return to nature, and that’s how it should be.”
While you might think horsehair is too old-fashioned to use in modern mattresses, there’s a good reason why the company has sworn by it for the last century-and-a-half. It’s because “every single curled strand of horsehair works as a tiny spring, enhancing the work of [their] internal spring systems, providing support and pliability.” Since each strand of it is basically a hollow tube that wicks away moisture and takes in fresh air, horsehair also creates a natural ventilation system in Hästens’ products — and we all know that sleep is best in cool, steady environments.
Need more convincing? How about the fact that Hästens’ horsehair is completely free of allergens? “Also worth noting,” the company points out, “is that horsehair is an organic material with natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-mite properties that contribute to a healthy, hygienic sleeping environment.”
All Hästens beds are equipped with a double spring system: soft, bendy springs give you surface comfort, while firmer springs below support your weary bones. If the company’s aim is to fuse practicality and comfort, they’ve certainly done it.
The company’s commitment to working nature’s best materials into its designs is reaffirmed in the Hästens wooden bed frame. Each frame is handmade from solid Swedish pine, all of which has been FSC-certified. That means you can rest easy knowing that the lumber used to make your bed was harvested in an environmentally-responsible manner. Plus, all Hästens frames come with an unbeatable 25-year warranty!
The Vividus is such a luxury item, you can even arrange to meet it in person before slapping down your credit card. According to Hästens, “A luxury bed like Vividus can only be truly experienced in person. During your private, VIP experience you’ll be guided through Vividus’ construction, your personalized options and immerse yourself in its tranquility.”
Looking for a restful, relaxing afternoon? Try taking a Vividus bed for a test drive.
