Have you ever wondered about the people who made your favorite mug, shirt or chair? In Why Do We Have Things?, Rita Mehta of The American Edit and Erin Husted of Hackwith Design House interview the independent designers, artists, small business owners and creatives behind our favorite things.
Today’s guest is Dan Hauber, the founder of Wright Bedding, a design driven company that focuses on making the best possible mattresses, pillows and bedding right here in America. Dan and Rita talk all about the process that went into launching WRIGHT – from the initial idea to the moment he knew he had to quit his job and focus on WRIGHT full time, to the 27 iterations and the jawbone testing that led to Wright’s first mattress, to the decision to build a product that is as beautiful as it is functional.
“If you are insanely devoted to making something better and to building it the right way, finding the right materials, the right production techniques, the right testing process and the right everything else. If you put the time and effort in to create something better, people will realize that, and people will connect with that.
Thank you to WRIGHT for sponsoring the podcast and bringing me to New York to celebrate NYCxDESIGN! I’ll be at THE SHOWROOM IN SOHO Thursday – Saturday and we’ll be recording some fun episodes of Why Do We Have Things? (including a bonus episode going up this week!) If you are in New York, please stop by, I’d love to meet you! If you aren’t in town, use code “theamericanedit” for 15% off your purchase!
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This post is part of a collaboration with WRIGHT Bedding.
I’ve written a lot about the importance of bedding and sleepwear on a good night’s sleep, but I have yet to cover the most important aspect – the mattress! We spend (or at least should be spending!) a third of our life on our mattress so I think it’s safe to say that it’s the most important piece of furniture in your home.
Over the last few years, several affordable mattress options have come to market but I have hesitated to share any of the companies as I didn’t see myself actually using one of their products for my primary bed… Earlier this year I was introduced to Dan Hauber, the founder of WRIGHT bedding, a design driven company that focuses on making the best possible mattresses, pillows, and bedding right here in America. I’ll admit that I was skeptical that these mattresses would be any different from the other models but after listening to Dan geek out about his products, testing out the mattress at the company’s Soho showroom, and learning all about the process that went into designing the collection, I’m ready and willing to make an official recommendation.
Dan was working in consulting on a project evaluating the mattress industry when he realized the opportunity existed for a well-made, well-designed mattress that was easy to purchase. The mattress industry has been able to capitalize on the fact that people don’t purchase mattresses very frequently and in general is an antiquated system, with layers and layers of middlemen, and the end result is sub-par products sold with extremely high margins. Instead of focusing on creating a low-cost option like many of the other direct-to-consumer mattress brands, Dan focused on creating the best possible mattress. And it’s pretty incredible.
Dan spent two years working with mattress factories to refine the design, equipping experts, friends, and mattress reviewers with Jawbone sleep trackers to track their quality of sleep. 27 prototypes later, the team settled on W1.27, the first mattress specifically engineered to deliver deeper and better sleep. Dan has been insistent on making everything in America because doing so allows the team to be much more involved in the entire design, testing, and development process – resulting in a much better product that everyone feels good about.
In addition to being comfortable and providing a great night of sleep, the mattress has everything you could ask for – four layers of Certi-Pur verified foam (which means that the foam is made without ozone depleters, heavy metals, flame retardants, formeldahyde, is low VOC, etc.), heat-wicking gel (without this, foam mattresses can be unbearably hot!), and naturally fire-retardant fibers as opposed to the traditional, potentially toxic chemical fire retardants typically used in mattresses. The foam mattress is made in Georgia and the fabric comes from North Carolina. This is something that you can feel safe spending a third of your life on.
After all of the comfort and safety details, WRIGHT focused on improving your overall experience, focusing on small details like managing the level of friction under the mattress so that your sheets stay tucked in and offering white-glove delivery so you don’t have to deal with lugging a mattress up your stairs… or getting rid of your old mattress. The brand also encompasses thoughtful additions to your bed – from a down pillow with special chambers so that it won’t separate overnight to a hand-printed duvet cover sewn in the garment district created in partnership with Caroline Z. Hurley. The bedding is made in Ohio and sourced from US farms – everything is 100% traceable. Wright is also in development on fully American made sheets, which are incredibly difficult to find – for other brands, the fabric is woven overseas and then cut and sewn in the US.
Why am I willing to recommend this bed? It’s simple – it’s the only option I’ve come across that I would willingly purchase for my own bedroom, as opposed to my guest bedroom. 4 years ago, before any of the newer mattress brands came to market, we spent hours and hours researching mattresses and ended up with an expensive premium option – foam layers, cooling gel, etc. It was the most expensive thing we’d purchased together at the time but we planned to have it for several years and we felt the price per use was worth it. And it has been. But WRIGHT has created a mattress that is actually better than the one we chose, and far less expensive. The W1.27 is the only mattress I’ve tested thus far that I would buy for myself, which is why it’s the mattress I’ve chosen to recommend to you.
If you are looking for a mattress, use the code “theamericanedit” for 15% off any purchase from WRIGHTBEDDING.COM!
It’s currently NYCxDESIGN and I’m excited to celebrate with WRIGHT next week in New York! I’ll be at the showroom in Soho next Thursday – Saturday and we’ll be recording some fun episodes of Why Do We Have Things? If you are in New York, please stop by, I’d love to meet you!
DISCLOSURE: This post is part of a sponsored Why Do We Have Things? collaboration with WRIGHT BEDDING but reflects my personal views and opinions. WRIGHT is an American made company whose products and initiatives align with the goals of The American Edit . Thank you for supporting the businesses that support TAE! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to EMAIL ME.
Have you ever wondered about the people who made your favorite mug, shirt or chair? In Why Do We Have Things?, Rita Mehta of The American Edit and Erin Husted of Hackwith Design House interview the independent designers, artists, small business owners and creatives behind our favorite things.
Today’s guest is Nicole Najafi, founder of Industry Standard, a direct to consumer denim brand founded by Nicole Najafi to deliver premium quality (the industry standard…) denim without a higher price point. Industry Standard jeans are designed in New York and made in the denim district of LA, using Cone Denim from North Carolina. Rita & Nicole talk about the process of launching Industry Standard when coming from a digital marketing background, the conscientious compromises we make every day, and about focusing on real, thoughtful products – and relationships – while building your business.
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Thank you so much for listening! We’d also really appreciate it if you would subscribe and leave us a review in iTunes or share #whydowewehavethings with your friends or on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!
I’ve always known about Eileen Fisher but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized that the brand was one I wanted to learn more about. Similar to when you learn a new word and then start to see and hear it everywhere, Eileen Fisher became something I came across frequently and wanted to seek out on my own…
First, a friend with incomparable taste and exceedingly high expectation mentioned she loved the brand’s sweaters; next, I read this incredible New Yorker profile on Eileen Fisher, with mentions to the brand’s responsible and sustainable practices right around the time I was starting to really rethink my career and how I shopped; and last, Celine and The Row came into my purview, showing timeless, simple, elegant looks – that I admired but could never dream to afford… but that seemed to share a similar aesthetic and ethos with much of Eileen Fisher’s collection. My infatuation was validated when The Cut told me it was cool to love Eileen Fisher, but I’d already become fan.
Style will always be my primary factor in making a purchase decision or recommendation but what impresses me most about Eileen Fisher is the brand’s commitment to showing their customers what is behind the label and to improving the industry for everyone involved (which, when you think about it, is everyone – or at least those of us who wear clothes!).
“We don’t want sustainability to be our edge. We want it to be universal.” —Eileen
VISION2020 Our vision is for an industry where human rights and sustainability are not the effect of a particular initiative, but the cause of a business well run. Where social and environmental injustices are not unfortunate outcomes, but reasons to do things differently.
On Behind the Label, you can learn more about Eileen Fisher’s commitment to Made in the USA, organic & sustainable fibers, safe dying practices, fair trade practices, human rights and their supply chain, and even how to wash and repair your items correctly so that they last for a long time! It’s comprehensive, and thoughtful, and so important.
This year, Eileen Fisher’s Spring Collection is 80% sustainable – a new record and simply an amazing feat. 20% of the collection is made in the USA as compared to 3% of most other brands. And all of it is simple, well-made, and beautiful.
To celebrate the collection and Earth Day, Eileen Fisher is hosting a giveaway of a $1000 shopping spree. Take this 5 question quiz (it’s fun and quick!) and let me know if your style leans towards Natural Beauty, Enlightened Luxe, or Living Local. (you won’t be surprised to find that mine was Living Local!)… even if you don’t win the gift card, you’re likely to find yourself with a little bonus takeaway just for entering!
DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post – I received compensation from Eileen Fisher in order to promote the Spring 2016 collection for Earth Day. I believe in the collection and that the products I’ve chosen to share align with the goals of The American Edit. Thank you for supporting the partners that support TAE. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to EMAIL ME.
