Design classics: Eames Plastic & Fiberglass Chairs

Sustainable innovation

Vitra introduces Eames Plastic Chairs made from recycled plastic

From January 2024, Vitra will consistently focus on sustainability by making all seat shells of the Eames Plastic Chairs from recycled post-consumer plastic. These shells are given minimal glass fibre reinforcement to ensure stability and quality, with the glass fibre content of the Eames Plastic Chair RE seat shell being 10%. Due to the use of recycled packaging waste, the seat shells may show minimal colour pigmentation.

The colour white in Virgin Plastic is only available until the end of 2024. The new Cotton White of the RE version, on the other hand, offers a natural white with the aforementioned pigmentation, which is particularly sustainable due to its manufacturing process.

Guide: Eames Plastic & Fibreglass Chairs by Vitra

The collection of Eames Plastic Chairs is one of the most popular and best-selling chair models worldwide. They come from the famous design couple Ray and Charles Eames.

But how do you choose the right model? In our guide, we show you how to get closer to your decision to choose a genuine Eames Plastic or Fibreglass Chair by Vitra.

Step 1 - Which model should I choose?

The Eames Plastic & Fiberglass Chairs include numerous different versions. Roughly, the design chairs can be divided into side and arm chairs, i.e. chairs with or without armrests. You are also spoilt for choice when it comes to the frame: four-legged, Eiffel Tower or Eiffel Tower with wooden sheathing. A version with rocking chair runners is also available. As for the colours, you have a particularly large selection of many modern colours to choose from - so really everyone can find a suitable Eames Chair for themselves. And as if such a large selection wasn't fantastic enough, the models are available unupholstered, with seat upholstery or fully upholstered!

Since 2018, it is also possible to purchase the fibreglass models again instead of the plastic seat shell. A new technical processing makes the new edition of the popular variant possible.

Step 2 - Which glides are suitable for my floor covering?

If the chairs are used on a carpeted floor, we recommend plastic glides. For all other floors such as tiles, parquet, stone or linoleum, we recommend using felt glides. These avoid scratching the floor.

Step 3 - Can the Eames Plastic Chairs also be used outdoors?

Most models are also available in an outdoor version. These are always unupholstered and differ in the design of the frame. In the variation with a metal frame, only the version in powder-coated black is suitable for outdoor use. The chrome-plated version, on the other hand, is not suitable for outdoor use. The plastic shell is suitable for outdoor use - nevertheless, especially with colourful shells, you should note that fading is possible with UV radiation.

Eames Plastic & Fiberglass Chairs to browse:

Eames Plastic Arm Chair DAR chair soft pink / white Vitra EXHIBITION PIECE

US$433.74* US$346.99*

In stock

Details

The history of the Eames Plastic Chairs

One of the Eames Plastic Chairs, the DAW chair, was presented for the first time in 1948 as part of the "Low Cost Furniture Design" competition of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where it won second place. Today, the Plastic Chairs have become classics that are indispensable in private homes and public spaces. And yet, at the time of their creation, the design chairs were a true novelty. The idea of a seat shell made from one piece and shaped to fit the body was innovative.

"The most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least" - Charles & Ray Eames absolutely lived up to this claim with the Plastic Chairs. The result was the first series-produced, affordable plastic chairs with outstanding design. With the Plastic Chairs, Charles & Ray Eames revolutionised the history of furniture in the 1950s. Society in Europe and the USA was in a state of upheaval after the war years. This also had an impact on furnishings and lifestyles. With the DAW and the other Plastic Chairs, Charles & Ray Eames made their contribution to freeing the living space from the prevailing controlledness.

From America to Europe

In the early 1940s, the Plastic Chairs were produced in the USA by Herman Miller. The design chairs made their way across the pond to Europe in the early 1950s when Erika and Willi Fehlbaum saw an Eames chair in a shop window during their trip to the USA.

Enthused by the design of the plastic chair, the Vitra founders negotiated the licence to sell the Eames Plastic Chairs in Europe. Ultimately, their efforts were successful and Vitra became the licensed manufacturer of the chairs in Europe and Asia. To this day, Vitra is the only licensed manufacturer for this sales region. Throughout their lives, Charles & Ray Eames maintained a close relationship with Vitra. This is also expressed in the fact that Vitra owns the Eames estate in the form of the Eames Archive. Even today, after the death of the designer couple, Vitra still makes an effort to act in their spirit and, when further developing collections, always asks itself the question: "What would Charles & Ray Eames say about this?

Charles and Ray Eames

Two names that cannot be ignored in the design world - Charles and Ray Eames. The Eames couple is one of the most important personalities in the field of design in the 20th century. Probably the most influential US architect and designer of the 20th century by far, Charles Eames was born on 17 June 1907 in St. Louis in the US state of Missouri. He studied architecture at Washington University in St. Louis.

Ray Eames was born Bernice Alexandra Kaiser in Sacramento in 1912. Her talent became apparent very early, her extraordinary talent for drawing was already discovered at the age of three. She first studied painting with Hans Hofmann in 1939 before beginning a four-month design course at Cranbrook Academy. There she not only worked with Eero Saarinen, but also met Charles Eames. Together with Ray, Charles started an unprecedented career - with the creation of numerous pieces of furniture that are still at the top of the design world today: the Plastic Chairs, the Lounge Chair or also the House Bird, to name just three of them.

In addition to designing furniture, the two have also made films, photographed and put together exhibitions. Vitra is the only legitimate manufacturer of Eames products for Europe and the Middle East.

Well, safely and sustainably packed

Next Level Packaging Technology - With our chair machine, we can not only pack swivel and design chairs quickly and safely for transport. Thanks to the reduced use of packaging material, the machine is also convincing in terms of sustainability.

In this video you can see how the chairs are packaged in our warehouse for shipment to you. In this way, we minimise transport damage and ensure that the goods are received safely. At the same time, by using this modern technology, we need less packaging material than usual..