Later this month, the upcoming INDEX Design Series in Dubai will witness the unveiling of the world’s most expensive pillow. The Tailormade Pillow, which costs anywhere between ₹1,30,000 and a whopping ₹53 lakh, is claimed to ‘solve all your sleeping woes.’
Founder and inventor of this sleep utility is Dutch cervical specialist-turned-designer, Thijs van der Hilst. A physical therapist by profession, he developed this unique product 15 years ago after observing what caused his clientele discomfort. Turns out, the culprit is your pillow.
“As a cervical specialist, I used to send my patients to a bed store to buy a good pillow. But what is the right pillow for which patient? If there are three sizes of pillows available, which one would fit the best? Large for a man? But what if this man sleeps on his stomach? Or what if a petite lady has a tiny neck and sleeps on a firm mattress? Are three sizes of pillow height enough to fit everybody?” he explains, adding, “The technology is totally new. I developed an algorithm to calculate the exact size and shape of a pillow for every person.”
A 3D scanner is used to determine the precise shape of the head, shoulders and neck. Dutch memory foam that can mould to the shape of the head is then used and milled with a hi-tech robotic machine.
The non-toxic foam is covered with hand-stitched Mulberry silk, Egyptian cotton, and 24-carat gold.
The cherry on top is the zipper. The most expensive pillow in the brand’s range features four diamonds and a huge 22.5ct sapphire in its zipper – which is responsible for the extravagant price tag.
The Gold Edition was developed in cooperation with the Royal Textile Museum in Tilburg, Netherlands. “It’s the world’s first real gold fabric. We use it to block any electromagnetic radiation during a night’s rest,” he explains.
Van der Hilst then measures the customer’s upper body and enquires about their sleeping habits, especially about how they lay on the bed — on the side, the stomach or on the back.
Mathematical calculations follow and the results are then sent to the designer’s team in Holland. The waiting time is around two to five months before a customer can rest on their Tailormade Pillow.
The hospitality sector has also taken notice of this unique offering and is keen to include it in facilities for privileged guests. The brand is currently working with some of the top hotels in the world, according to Van der Hilst.
For people who are constantly on the move, or wish to carry their personal pillows on the go, they can even get a custom-made Louis Vuitton case for the Tailormade Pillow.
Details: tailormadepillow.com
