Header: Eugene Alletto / M3 Performance® Mattress
Eugene Alletto, founder of customer-centric BEDGEAR, started to innovate the sleep industry in 2009 after noticing that there was a gap in the field: personalization was completely overlooked. BEDGEAR’s portfolio, from pillows to mattresses, offers a tailored sleep experience, setting it apart from the sleeping industry that commonly develops one-size-fits-all products.
Alletto efforts to redefine sleep through technological integration and a focus on individual comfort have not been unnoticed, as his M3 Performance® Mattress was recently awarded the “Innovation of the Year” prize at the SIT Furniture Design Awards.
In this interview, we explore the remarkable design, eco-friendly materials, and unmatched comfort that set the M3 apart, Alletto’s approach to BEDGEAR, and how personal experience and professional insight have given him a voice in the bedding industry.
Photo credit: BEDGEAR
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional journey? How did design come to have such an important role in your life?
I’ve always loved building things. Using my hands and my creativity has always been at the forefront of my success. I love creating unique surroundings for home furnishings, picking out different fabrics and textures, or being eclectic in my designs because it has been at the forefront of every decision I make.
I take pride in building homes, commercial spaces, products, and showrooms. I can express myself through different outlets which is why design plays such an important role in my life.
Can you tell us more about how you selected the materials of the M3 Performance Mattress and what impact they have on the sleep experience?
Being an outdoorsman myself, I love experiencing and exploring the world. Regardless of where you stand with climate change or where it relates to pollution, why not be good to Mother Earth and be as minimalistic as possible? This is the question we asked ourselves when choosing materials for the M3. The M3’s design was meant to be modular and sustainable.
This Performance mattress can be updated as your sleep preferences change over time, allowing you to replace its parts, keep it clean, and extend the life of the mattress. We wanted the M3 to be the only mattress a consumer will ever need because we can eliminate unnecessary landfill waste. The modular aspect of the M3 also allows us to select materials that are able to be upcycled, recycled, or repurposed. The materials used for the M3 have the lowest possible impact on the environment.
You can vacuum the chassis, wash the cover and replace the parts so the entire mattress doesn’t have to go into a landfill.
The personalization available in your design is remarkable, how does the mattress allow for independent firmness adjustment on each side?
The M3’s build is made of multiple components, and one of the key components to making the M3 unique is the Independent Suspension Units. The Independent Suspension units are interchangeable support layers that allow you to choose the firmness for each side of the bed. Made with hundreds of individually wrapped coils, each unit works independently to provide responsive support that caters to your preferences, so you never have to compromise on comfort.
If your comfort preference changes over time, you can simply remove the Independent Suspension unit and swap it for a new one by unzipping the top cover.
Which main issues were you trying to address when developing this project?
One of BEDGEAR’s most important issues we were trying to address when developing the M3 was personalization. We wanted to be kind to Mother Earth and remain a proudly sustainable company without having our customers compromise their comfort.
Every person has different shoes, jackets, shirts, and pant sizes because it’s what personally fits them best. Yet, the bedding industry gives everyone little to no options to choose which mattress or pillow fits them best. People are forced to choose between one type of body or one type of size when looking for a mattress.
You shouldn’t have to compromise your comfort when it comes to sleep. This is why BEDGEAR is so adamant about providing the best-personalised fit for every consumer’s needs.
Photo credit: BEDGEAR
How did you approach the challenge of creating a mattress that would meet the needs of both individual sleepers and couples who may have different sleep preferences?
People have been forced into this “one-size-fits-all” mentality in the mattress industry when it doesn’t have to be that way.
The M3 has various firmness options. A sleeper can choose to have the softest of coils or the firmest, so whether you’re alone or in a couple, your mattress will always conform to you no matter your body type and preference throughout life. Additionally, if you and your partner share the same preferences, the M3 can accommodate the same firmness on both sides as well.
What does winning the SIT Award mean to you in terms of validation and recognition of your work?
I’ve been in the furniture business for almost 30 years, and I’ve seen the SIT Award given to many pieces of furniture for their design and creativity. It’s always been the pinnacle of many designers to receive this award. It is so important for not only me, but the BEDGEAR team, to have this validation and recognition. It is truly significant, and we are so proud to be able to have a mattress built that would be considered and given such a special award as this one. It’s great to see SIT recognize that important designs can be minimalistic yet good for Mother Earth. So, we are celebrating today as we gracefully accept this wonderful award.
What kind of feedback have you received on the design?
We’ve had great accolades from couples who are saying they just can’t believe a mattress like the M3 wasn’t put on the market sooner. It seems so obvious to everyone that personalization is key.
We’ve had complaints from people who were sleeping too hot or too cold before they discovered BEDGEAR. This is because the foam other bedding brands use is derived from petroleum, which is an insulator that keeps you hot. They also use toxic chemicals that are meant to keep you “cold”. In reality, these chemicals that are supposedly beneficial to the sleeper, are actually dangerous to consumers and their environment. The M3 set the precedent for all bedding companies as it is the first time that a bed feels cool with safe, breathable materials that don’t absorb all your body heat.
Couples can now cuddle in the middle without getting hot but also roll over to their side of the bed to get the perfect night’s sleep without temperature issues when it’s time to go to bed. It’s been great.
Are you currently working on something new that you can tell us about?
We are taking our M3 and making it even smarter. We will be delivering them by the end of this year the Ambient package. The Ambient package will give you complete control over your sleep, and your microclimate. This will be done through an app and through your smart home. This will be the first bed that has dynamic heating and cooling throughout the night. More to come!
What do you hope to work on in the future and which issues are on your “to-solve” list?
BEDGEAR is positioned to become a health and tech company now that we’re starting to get good results from people sleeping better with our products. Our new Ambient will be one of our many new smart products. BEDGEAR’s goal is to solve more health issues by gathering and collecting data in a unique way that no one else has done before so that we can improve our health and wellness through sleep.
Photo credit: BEDGEAR
