Esquire Magazine’s “The Big Black Book, Spring/Summer 2011″ issue” boasts itself as “The Style Manual for Successful Men”. Reading this, I was immediately reminded of the recent lighting and home design collaboration between Foscarini and Diesel fashion label, coined “Successful Living” (read our blog post on this collection, here). It seems that success is highly dependent on style – or so the fashion and design houses would suggest. In our business of some of the most iconic, stylish furniture and home accessories in the history of modern design… who are we to argue?

Esquire Magazine Cover - Spring/Summer 2011 Issue

The magazine issue’s index, after 9 pages of glossy dapper men sporting Gucci watches, Ascot Chang suits, and Hermes blousons lists “The Portfolios – How to put yourself together for wherever life takes you.” Under Portfolio No. 2: “The Anti-Suit”, is a one page article on selecting a stylish man chair. Titled “Take a Seat – Eight iconic chairs that help you sit with style”, this article is reminiscent of a gabrielross.com product page. I was pleased as punch to see that we offer every single one of the 8 chairs that Esquire features.

Esquire Magazine Article, from "The Big Black Book 2011 Spring/Summer Issue

#1: LC3 Grand Modele Armchair:

LC3 Armchair by Le Corbusier for Cassina

#2: Barcelona Chair:

Barcelona Chair by Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll

#3: Eames Soft Pad Lounge Chair:

Eames Soft Pad Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller

#4: Swan Chair:

Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen

#5: 1006 Navy Armchair:

Navy Arm Chair for Emeco

#6: Wassily Chair:

Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer for Knoll

#7: Aeron Chair:

Aeron Chair by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf for Herman Miller

#8: Womb Chair:

Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll

Visit gabrielross.com to see these chairs and many many more, here.

Emeco has partnered up with designer Michael Young to produce a new collection that combines their iconic aluminum with a new material (new to Emeco, that is), wood. I adore the combination of the hard, industrial surface of aluminum combined with an organic, material that grew under sun.

Lancaster Collection - image: emeco.net

The collection includes stacking chairs, tables and barstools. All the pieces are available in light or dark stained ash wood and either polished aluminum or “nano” powder coat. The ash wood is sustainable, durable, and harvested from, you guessed it, Lancaster Pennsylvania. As wood isn’t Emeco’s specialty, the wood components are being hand crafted in a local Amish factory in Lancaster with a long time reputation for wood working.

Lancaster chairs - images: emeco.net

Lancaster chair shown stacked. image: emeco.net

Lancaster Table - images: emeco.net

Lancaster Barstool rear and front view - images: emeco.net

The way that Young designed the connection between the aluminum and wood components makes this chair really unique. He doesn’t hide the fact that there is a joint there, and celebrates the contrast between the materials by accentuating the join with visible bolts, and large tab like connectors. These details speak to the industrial side of the design, although the beauty in which all the elements are finished illustrates the craftmanship that Emeco is known for. The Lancaster collection is perfect composition of hybrid raw material, elegant design, and enduring quality.

Lancaster chair detail - image: emeco.net

Designer Michael Young at the Trussardi store in Milan, 2011. image: emeco.net

Michael Young is an accomplished industrial designer who has worked with many international furniture manufacturers. He has this to say about Lancaster’s design story:

“I feel passionate about working with natural materials that live forever.  Wood and metal are really the materials that connect to the human so there was no question that the richness of their aging processes is a perfect combination.”
Michael Young, quote source: Emeco Newsletter, July 2011

We are currently working on getting the Lancster collection up on our online store. If you have questions about pricing, availability, etc., contact us, here.
Visit Emeco’s website for information and images, here.
Visit Michael Young’s website to see more amazing design projects, here.
Read Designboom‘s up close and personal interview with Michael Young, here.

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

Emeco’s 111 Navy Chair, made from 111 plastic Coke bottles, had an exciting year. It was a big hit during its debut at Milan’s Furniture Fair in April and made waves (er… icebergs?) in London while frozen in a one-ton block of ice.

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

The 111 chair eventually made its way into the hands/spaces of the Serpentine Gallery in London, Whole Foods in Austin TX, McDonalds in Tulsa OK, Various universities and college’s across the US, the Conran Shop in London and Tokyo, and many others.

Serpentine Gallery, London - photo: Emeco's AlumiNews Edition Jan. 2011

Whole Foods, Austin TX and McDonalds, Tulsa OK - photo: Emeco's AlumiNews Edition Jan. 2011

The chair also received distinguished design awards such as The Good Design Award, and the IF Design Award. Emeco also claimed a Distinction award at the Rebrand Competition and the 111 was honoured by the Interior Design Magazine BoY Awards.

Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com

Find the 111 Navy Chair on our website, here.
See emecowithcoke.com, here.
Visit Emeco’s website, here.
Sign up to recieve Emeco’s AlumiNews, here.

If you have walked past market square in the last few months, you have probably experienced the incredibly delicious scent of Wannawafel at 560 Johnson Street.

Wannawafel Market Square location

This Belgian waffle restaurant is locally owned and recently made an exciting appearance on Canada’s entrepreneureal dream maker/masher television show “Dragons’ Den”.

Wannawafel on Dragons' Den

Wannawafel owners towed their custom designed street vending cart across Canada as part of their presentation, which was definitely a contributing factor to their success on the show.  I expect we will see these carts popping up across the country, now that the business is offering franchises in partnership with Dragon, Jim Treliving.

At Wannawafel’s brick and mortar store in Victoria, you can try one of their delicious waffles while sitting cozy on Gabriel Ross’ own “1951″ bar stools by Emeco.

Emeco 1951 Barstool

We wish Renaat and his family all the best with their growing business.  I can barely wait for my next Sunday morning waffle…

Visit Wannawafel’s website here

View the Dragons’ Den episode here

View Emeco and other great products on our website here

I was recently introduced to a really inspiring video on Emeco’s website, www.emeco.net.  I always knew that the Navy chair was designed for the US Navy, and that it has a 150 year warranty… but I never really knew what a cool all around company Emeco is until I explored their website in more detail.  These chairs are handbuilt and quality tested to the nines.  It takes 77 steps and 116 hands to make a single Navy 1006 chair.  As said in one of the video clips… “These chairs are made from blood, sweat, tears and love” and they’re built for life… err… two lives.  Green?  Any chair that lasts more than a lifetime is the earth’s friend… especially when it’s also made of 80% recycled aluminum.

I used to want one of these chairs because I loved the way it looked… now I want one because I love the way it’s made. 

Emeco 1006 Navy Chair