[Shinsegae Casa]
[Shinsegae Casa]

Seoul humidity topped 65% on 11 days in June

Discomfort index rise drives demand for cooling bedding

'Materasso' mattress sales up 20% in May-June

Demand for cooling bedding and functional mattresses is rising as hot, humid weather persists in place of the traditional monsoon season. Consumers looking to improve their bedroom environment against indoor humidity and tropical nights are driving broader summer product sales across the home furnishings industry.

Shinsegae Casa announced Thursday that June sales of "Sierra," the cooling functional fabric series under its living and lifestyle brand Casamia, rose approximately 2.5 times compared with the previous month.

Sierra is a summer fabric line Shinsegae Casa launched in April. The range includes bedding such as mattress pads and pillow pads, as well as sofa pads and seat cushions. Its defining feature is the use of contact-cooling materials on bedroom and living room products that come into broad contact with the skin.

According to Shinsegae Casa, Sierra uses a high-performance contact-cooling material called "Duralon-Cool." The company said it used yarn produced through specialized technology without chemical treatments to achieve cooling performance and fast-drying capability. The product focuses on improving sleep conditions during humid summers by enhancing moisture and perspiration management.

The increase in cooling bedding sales tracks closely with the hot and humid weather. According to Shinsegae Casa, Seoul recorded peak daily humidity above 65 percent on 11 days in June, with humidity exceeding 60 percent on more than 20 days. The company said demand for indoor comfort products grew particularly as high humidity became more frequent toward the latter half of the month.

Sales of functional mattresses also climbed. Sales of high-performance mattresses under Shinsegae Casa's premium sleep brand Materasso rose more than 20 percent in May and June compared with the same period last year. The company said the results reflect growing consumer concern over sleep quality caused by humidity and tropical nights.

Materasso mattresses feature a layered structure using naturally derived materials designed to enhance breathability and resilience. The line is positioned to meet summer sleep product demand by emphasizing functions that help regulate body temperature and maintain stable sleeping posture.

"As days of high humidity and elevated discomfort levels increase, more customers are looking to keep their indoor environment comfortable," a Shinsegae Casa official said. "As demand grows for making the home the most restful space possible amid unpredictable climate conditions, we plan to continue introducing functional home furnishing products."


hong@heraldcorp.com