Cover How sibling duo Ken and Vin Yap are navigating market expansion and opening Kapas Living’s flagship store at TRX Exchange (Photo: Fady Younis)
How sibling duo Ken and Vin Yap are navigating market expansion and opening Kapas Living’s flagship store at TRX Exchange (Photo: Fady Younis)
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Five years on since we last met them, sibling duo Ken and Vin Yap have transformed Kapas Living into a premier luxury bedding brand in Malaysia, navigating market expansion and opening their flagship store at The Exchange TRX
Peaceful sleep is a luxury. Ask new parents or anyone over the age of 25 and they’ll tell you the same thing. For most of us, prioritising sleep is a bigger challenge than it should be. For others, simple sleep-time rituals help to de-stress and de-couple from an exhausting day.
Simple things we take for granted can certainly help elevate this bedtime routine, whether it’s scented candles or luxe bed sheets and cotton comforters reminiscent of pillowy soft hotel beds from past vacations.
With this desire to let consumers capture a small slice of luxury in their own home, brother-sister duo Vin Li and Zer Ken Yap started Kapas Living years ago. The brand was built with the aim of helping recreate that luxe bedding experience—promoting quality materials without the needless markups.
In 2025, Kapas Living celebrated a big milestone with the opening of its flagship store in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s financial district, The Exchange TRX.
The entrepreneurial pair, who hail from corporate backgrounds made a remarkable pivot five years ago when they built a brand from scratch during the onset of a pandemic. Their background in flipping homes for Airbnb provided them with the business acumen necessary to build a brand that would eventually transcend digital boundaries and establish a physical presence.
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Above In 2025, Kapas Living celebrated a big milestone with the opening of its flagship store in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s financial district, The Exchange TRX
In 2025, Kapas Living celebrated a big milestone with the opening of its flagship store in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s financial district, The Exchange TRX
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“As Kapas Living grew, we received so many requests from customers asking if there was a space where they could see our products in person,” Vin says. “Our previous setup—working out of a small showroom and office in Taman Desa—wasn’t enough to fully bring the brand to life. Opening our flagship store at TRX Exchange has been such a rewarding moment for us. It’s amazing to finally meet and speak to our customers face-to-face, to hear them say they love our sheets—it’s truly the best feeling.”
As Kapas Living also makes inroads to Singapore, the siblings are once again balancing gratitude with growing pains—as well as a steep learning curve throughout the process.
“The most important takeaway? Each market is unique, and assumptions don’t always hold true,” Vin shares. “For example, we initially thought that Singapore customers would have very similar preferences to Malaysian customers, but we quickly realised that the marketing approach had to be tailored differently. And of course, Singapore is more expensive—operating there comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s been a rewarding journey to see our brand gain traction.”
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But bedding down in brick-and-mortar doesn’t mean they’re fluffing the original formula.
“We’ve stayed true to our initial vision of providing luxury and quality bedding without the unnecessary markups,” the founders say. What’s evolved? The devil in the delightful details—from extra garters on sheets and additional ties in duvet covers, Kapas Living’s packaging is designed to feel like a gift. Their rule of thumb: if it’s not “shyiok” to sleep in, it doesn’t make the cut.
“We did have a conversation recently about potentially bringing in a lower-tier product, but we quickly realised that if we don’t think it’s awesome and something we’d proudly use ourselves, then what’s the point? We’ve always aimed to make products we’re truly proud of,” adds Vin.
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Above Kapas Living co-founder Zer Ken Yap
Above Kapas Living co-founder Vin Li Yap
Kapas Living co-founder Zer Ken Yap
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Throughout it all, the sibling dynamic has been both their secret weapon and their spice. Ken dreams up big ideas (“He sees possibilities where others see limitations,” his sister quips) while she keeps the operation grounded in reality and detail. “I love the challenge of multitasking—whether it's coming up with new product ideas or managing the day-to-day operations, I enjoy tackling multiple things at once to keep the momentum going. It is all in the nitty-gritty!” Vin says.
Their advice to budding entrepreneurs? Prioritise storytelling. “A strong ‘why’ will carry you through hard decisions,” they say—like the one they faced when tempted to introduce a budget line.
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“The toughest decision we’ve made was actually not about one particular product or business move, but about staying true to our values,” says Vin.
“When things started picking up, there were definitely moments where we thought about cutting corners or changing the way we worked to make things easier or cheaper. But we stuck to our guns and kept our focus on quality, honesty, and comfort—no matter what. That was definitely one of the hardest yet most rewarding decisions we made.”
With Kapas Living now a household name in Malaysia ahead of making its mark on Singapore, its founders’ journey proves that consistency, conviction, and a sibling-sized dose of teamwork can make even the softest sheets stand out in a crowded market.
Credits
Photography: Fady Younis
Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
