Meet the Showroom: Vispring
Vispring has opened only its second-ever standalone showroom, at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. The space features five bestselling bed designs and is a jumping-off point to discover more about the brand, which has a formidable history: founded in 1901, it pioneered the use of pocket springs in mattresses, while its ethos of using top-quality natural fibres lives on today. Here, managing director Martin Gill (pictured below) explains more here about why natural is best, and how Vispring’s long history and reputation for quality has seen its beds and mattresses installed in homes, hotels and yachts around the world (including Titanic).
What brought Vispring to Design, Centre, Chelsea Harbour?
After the successful opening of our first flagship store, which opened in 2022, we were keen to look at another perfect London location for our brand. We already have great relationships with many interior designers and hospitality partners, but this is a growing part of our business and Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour is the perfect place for us to showcase our brand to this audience.
What should we expect from the showroom?
We were inspired by the store concept of our first flagship, with the same wood panelling and oak finishes, but it has its own identity and in particular there is more of a focus on design and fabric choices. Visitors can experience Vispring’s luxury beds and wide range of customisation options and, with sleep experts on hand in-store, they can rest assured that they will find the perfect product to meet their requirements.
Why should customers visit in person as opposed to looking/buying online?
You spend a third of your life in bed so buying a bed or mattress is an incredibly important decision to make. As leading sleep experts, we have always recommended trying a bed physically to help make an informed decision. We encourage you to try a lot of different combinations, for example, spring tension, filling and size, to work out what’s best for you, and we allow the time to guide you on this very important journey.
What’s Vispring’s design philosophy?
Vispring exemplifies traditional British craftsmanship and luxury in today’s modern world. We resolutely refuse to cut corners in the selection of natural materials we use and our standards of production. We believe it is this commitment to quality and longevity in materials, design and manufacture that has enabled Vispring to stand the test of time and remain the leading British luxury bed brand.
Is there a ‘hero’ product that encapsulates your brand, or that’s been a long-standing bestseller?
Vispring is a bed brand but at the heart of what we do is the mattress and they are built to last – we offer a 30 year guarantee, and from the entry level ‘Elite’ to the ‘Diamond Majesty’ at the very top end of our range, we have a mattress to suit every need and customer. The creation of Vispring mattresses has remained largely unchanged in more than 120 years. The same time-honoured skills of hand nesting, side stitching and tufting have been passed down the generations and are still employed to produce our signature comfort.
What broad trends in your sector of the design industry are you embracing?
Like all industries, driving sustainability is key in our sector but has been at the core of our business since the very beginning. Vispring’s mattresses contain no artificial products such as plastic, polyester and foam, and no chemicals are used in the manufacturing processes. Beds are hand-stitched rather than glued, and made from materials such as alpaca wool, fine horsehair, organic cotton, calico, tussah silk, bamboo and cashmere – 78% of which is sourced from British suppliers. We reduce waste by manufacturing natural and durable mattresses that can last a lifetime rather than heading for landfill after a few years.
What craftsmanship or innovation goes into Vispring’s products?
Every Vispring mattress is made by hand in our factory in Plymouth using all natural materials. Vispring’s expert bed makers began to experiment with new, natural mattress fillings. Horsehair was used for natural spring, pure cotton for its breathability, and Shetland wool for strength and comfort, while luxury finishes including silk and cashmere were used for softness. In 1932, Vispring continued to innovate, creating the world’s first pocket-sprung divan to partner the mattress. This combination of sprung mattress and divan is now known as the ultimate sleep system and one which we continue to create to this day in our Plymouth factory.
Is there anything else you’d like the Design Centre’s community to know about you?
In 1911, ocean liners were the way to travel, and it was here that Vispring found its first major orders. The comfort and luxury of a Vispring mattress fitted perfectly in the opulent cabins and suites of the world’s finest ships including Titanic and Olympic. Today we continue this tradition as suppliers to Princess Yachts. Beyond boats, you will also find Vispring mattresses on Gulfstream jets, in all rooms at The Dorchester, and all Dorchester Collection hotels around the world.
