Purple didn’t start as a
mattress company. It started as a materials science company.
In 1989, brothers Tony and Terry Pearce began developing advanced cushioning technology for medical and
consumer applications, including wheelchair seats and hospital beds. After decades of experimentation, they invented a proprietary material called Hyper-Elastic Polymer, designed to both support and
relieve pressure.
In 2015, they launched Purple with a simple idea: apply this technology to sleep. The result was the GelFlex Grid, a new type of mattress design that
quickly gained attention for its unique feel and performance.
Purple grew rapidly through direct-to-consumer eCommerce, viral marketing, and a focus on product
differentiation, eventually expanding into wholesale, retail showrooms, and a broader sleep product portfolio.
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Fun Facts:
30+ years of R&D before the first mattress: Purple’s core technology was decades in the making before the brand ever
launched.
Originally used in medical settings: The same pressure-relieving tech was used in wheelchairs and
hospital beds before it ever hit a bedroom.
The “egg test” made Purple famous: Their viral ads showed raw eggs not breaking under pressure, helping turn a complex
product into something instantly understandable.
Made in the USA at scale: Purple designs and manufactures most
of its products domestically, including producing its own proprietary grid material.
Not foam, not springs, not
air: Purple created an entirely new category with its grid system, sitting outside traditional mattress constructions.
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