Question about 50th Anni Eames Lounge Chair  

They changed the leather
NM

thanks for the answer. ...
thanks for the answer. Thats a real bummer, somehow it looks false, or like a car seat. Too bad I can't oil it up, the care instructions say it will ruin the surface. 🙁
http://myspace.com/jasmin193

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There are other leather options available through Herman Miller. The default leather, which it sounds like you got, is not the best quality. I personally wish they would do custom chairs in fabrics since leather is evil!

the one on TV show House...
is covered with a yellow-ish white fabric that looks like corduroy. Never saw one that was not leather.

When did they change the leather
I know that the new Herman Miller Eames Lounge chairs have a different leather than the vintage ones. Does anyone know when they changed the leather? And why did they change the leather? I can't seem to find any documentation on it. I guess it's something they don't want people to know about. I bought a new one recently. It's nice looking but not the beautiful shiny leather of the old ones. I'm thinking of selling it at a loss and searching for a vintage. Thoughts?

Is it not...
Ironic that the company that claims to be the custodian of the "original" design bla, bla, bla would sell Eames chairs that look like car seats...That fluffy, soft, shiny and losely defined shape of the cushions is as important to the Eames design as any other part of this design...yes, money rules.

I guess I assumed that it...
I guess I assumed that it got shiney and crackled over time. I purchased mine used, but it's only 3-5 years old. The leather is shiney and crackled. I believe it was a showroom piece, and therefore in a high traffic area. I was glad because I wanted one that was worn in, but it's new(ish) too. Did HM change this in ust the last couple of years?

I phoned Herman Miller
I called Herman Miller and asked about the leather. The shiny leather that everyone likes is the Ambassador leather, which was discontinued in 2000. Now they offer the Herman Miller standard leather. The reason for the change, they say is that the color fastness of the old leather was not good. Colors would fade. Not the black, but the newer colors such as the tans, burgandies, or browns would fade.

You can order your own leather
I forgot to add that Herman Miller says you can also buy your own leather and send it in to have a eames lounge that is custom made. You buy the leather.

how does the new leather age?
I think the newer Herman Miller standard leather does pick up some character over time. I have an aluminum group chair with the newer leather that I sit in a lot and it does look a bit better now than when I bought it.

It might age just fine. I...
It might age just fine. I know my lounger was made after 2000, the supposed last year of the Ambassador leather. Mine, like I said, has a lot more shine and wear than new ones. Not as shiney as my friend's 60s lounge, but then again it has only had a few years to wear.

Herman Miller
You can order the chair in the Edelman Leather for a upcharge . it really looks great I too have a new chair in the show room different then the chairs of the 80's 90's but still nice looking .

Aside from the leather,
the discussion of which I have followed with interest,
can anyone explain how one removes the cushion from the ottoman? I would like to swap cushions between two ottomans -- don't ask! -- and I don't want to damage anything. Special tools needed? The pieces in question were both manufactured right before the anniversary edition was released. Thanks in advance for any tips.

miller chair
The cushions slide on and off with the ottoman .... look for the end with the zipper push it away from you... you can hurt it ... . the ones on the chair slip up and down ..