Built On Care, Not Chemicals
Our founder, Jean Corriveau, began his understanding of sleep early, working alongside a family friend in the mattress industry while finishing his studies. What started as a summer job became an education in comfort, materials, and craft. Living with the factory owner’s family and learning every part of the business, Jean discovered that true comfort is never accidental. It is the result of thoughtful design, honest materials, and careful workmanship.
In 1985, after completing university, Jean founded his business with a clear purpose: to build mattresses that support the body and stand the test of time.
Planting The Seed
As a teenager, Jean spent six summers working in a small mattress factory in Quebec, learning everything from sales and accounting to sourcing and production. By the time he moved to Ottawa for university, he had learned how to make mattresses and how to listen closely to the people who slept on them.
When he graduated, Jean noticed something missing. No one near Ottawa was making mattresses with the same level of care and attention to materials. So, he opened a small workshop of his own, producing mattresses made primarily from foam and springs, which was standard at the time. But it would not stay that way for long.
A Turning Point Toward Organic
In the 1990s, Jean began meeting customers with various chemical sensitivities who struggled to sleep on conventional mattresses. Determined to help, he started experimenting with chemical-free alternatives. At first, he sold only a few each month, but those early conversations changed the direction of his work.
A customer introduced him to “green” cotton (“organic” was not a widely used term), and Jean began researching how mattresses had been made before synthetic foams and adhesives became the norm. This meant tracking down old equipment and relearning techniques that prioritized natural materials like cotton and wool. His research soon led him to Europe, where he discovered that manufacturers were far ahead in their use of organic cotton, natural rubber, and wool.
These trips marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning, travel, and material integrity.
A Fully Organic Approach
By the early 2000s, Jean had begun working extensively with natural latex, opening new possibilities for comfort, durability, and customization. In 2004, he made a defining decision to move away from synthetic materials entirely and focus exclusively on organic and natural components.
Working with organic rubber allowed Jean to design mattresses that could be customized for different sleeping positions, body types, and support needs. The modular design meant layers could be adjusted or replaced over time, recognizing that bodies change through pregnancy, aging, and life transitions. His goal was simple but ambitious: to help people achieve deeper, more restorative sleep, night after night.
At the heart of this approach was the belief that when the body is properly supported, breathing improves, pressure eases, and sleep becomes truly restorative.
Sourcing the World’s Best Materials
As Obasan grew, Jean traveled extensively to understand not only the materials themselves, but also how they were grown, harvested, and processed. He wanted to see conditions firsthand and ensure that workers, farmers, and animals were treated with respect.
In Sri Lanka, he found organic rubber harvested and molded using the dunlop method, eliminating the need for stabilizing chemicals. In Argentina’s Patagonia region, he sourced resilient, springy wool from sheep raised humanely in a harsh climate untouched by modern agriculture. In Peru, he worked with organic cotton growers whose practices support both environmental health and local communities.
Closer to home, Obasan sources FSC-certified wood from Quebec, ensuring responsible forest management and long-term sustainability.
These relationships were not transactional. Over time, they became partnerships rooted in trust, shared values, and mutual respect.
Crafted in Canada
Obasan remains a family-owned company, with mattresses handcrafted in Canada. Jean chose not to outsource production in order to protect craftsmanship, quality, and job security. Many members of the Obasan team have been with the company for decades, reflecting a workplace built on care, stability, and pride in making something meaningful.
Each mattress is handcrafted by a team of skilled individuals, combining time-tested techniques with modern understanding of sleep and ergonomics. The same attention extends to Obasan’s pillows, toppers, and comforters, creating a complete sleep system designed to support long-term health.
A Belief That Endures
Jean’s travels have taken him across continents and into farms, factories, and workshops around the world. But the purpose has always remained the same: to understand how things are made, to ensure people are treated fairly, and to give back wherever possible.
At the heart of Obasan is a simple belief that continues to guide everything we do: when you sleep well, you live well.
