3sixteen + Herman Miller
A special project resulting in a majestic custom Eames lounge chair and ottoman
LES-based raw denim fiends 3sixteen advocate skilled craftsmanship and longevity—which is why they often post photos of their customers’ faded, worn-in jeans after years of use. Thus, their special collaboration with design manufacturer Herman Miller makes perfect sense, as there’s a shared commitment to inspiring through timeless, dependable design. Together, they’ve created a custom version of the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, first introduced in 1956. Just three sets were made for 3sixteen in the factories at Grand Rapids, MI, and the results just beg to be sat on. They selected oiled Santos Palisander veneers for the molded plywood shell and natural vegetable-tanned leather for the upholstery. And, of course, 3sixteen plans on documenting how the patina beautifully develops over the years, just like they do with their jeans.
3sixteen’s collaborations, like the one with tattoo artist Thomas Hooper, often spark from mutual admiration and this case wasn’t too different. A Herman Miller employee had emailed the brand, inquiring about a new denim jacket that hadn’t debuted yet. The email conversation grew into a discussion of the two companies’ shared values and a year later, the chair and ottoman became a reality.
Sink into this beauty next week in New York: 3sixteen will be debuting the chair and ottoman to the design and craftsmanship-focused Pop-Up Flea holiday market, taking place 11-13 December 2015 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, alongside their collection of apparel.
Images courtesy of Julian Berman
