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Chair Wars
So CB2 has knocked off updated the classic aluminum Emeco Navy Chair for much less $$. Let's compare:
The original (left) sells for about $385. CB2's Bandit Chair (oh they stoled it alright!) is only $119. It doesn't have the same seat detail and the legs are slightly dumpier -- could just be the photo -- but I actually prefer the panel back. I guess it's enough of a change since Target got served a few years back for copying this same design. I'm not such a fan of the swirly bars their manufacturer added to avoid a lawsuit.
September 28, 2007
The Emeco has the contoured seat (it may have been one of the first to do those). I always admired that detail. Don't see it on the cb2 version.
Wish the cb2 back panel were a little lower too.
There's someone making an emeco knockoff that's almost identical. Same contoured seating but with four vertical bars in the backrest rather than 3. Google "sandra aluminum chair" to see them.
I managed to find a pair of the real deal on ebay last year. They needed to be cleaned up a bit, but I got both of them for $140 delivered. I was quite proud of myself.
It's insane that Emeco and its dealers charge $385 for these. Each probably has about $40 worth of aluminum, if that, and the molds are decades old and have paid for themselves years ago. Emeco is charging that much because it can (the design cachet will make people pay the $385), not because the price is fair.
It makes me sympathize with the knocker-offers.
I LOVE how you scratched out knock-off. As a designer, it is great to see updates on classic furniture versus simply making the same exact design in poorly executed proportions and cheap materials. I appreciate we all have budgets and so it's nice to see that when the Bib Box stored design to introduce a new line of furniture, it's re-designed and is different. Regardless if the concept is similar - great find. They also have a great alternative to the Sante & Cole classic tripod lamp ... cheers & thanks for the blog post.
whoops I meant the Bog Box Stores ... (sorry about the spelling, keyboard stuck and I submitted before a quick read over)