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The Vitra Eames Lounge Chair possibly the world’s favourite chair and undeniably one of the most coveted pieces of mid-century furniture was first released in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames.
Inspired by film director Billy Wilder, traditional English club chairs, and a shared commitment to comfort and functional beauty, the Eames Lounge Chair combines supple, buttery-soft leather with moulded plywood shells to create a design that feels instantly lived-in yet effortlessly refined.
Shop the original Vitra Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman and discover why this timeless piece remains a true design icon nearly seventy years after its debut. To get more inspiration read the Vitra Eames lounge chair design icon guide. If you need any help or advice on which lounge chair to choose read our helpful lounge chair buying guide.
The Vitra Eames Lounge Chair possibly the world’s favourite chair and undeniably one of the most coveted pieces of mid-century furniture was first released in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames.
Inspired by film director Billy Wilder, traditional English club chairs, and a shared commitment to comfort and functional beauty, the Eames Lounge Chair combines supple, buttery-soft leather with moulded plywood shells to create a design that feels instantly lived-in yet effortlessly refined.
Shop the original Vitra Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman and discover why this timeless piece remains a true design icon nearly seventy years after its debut. To get more inspiration read the Vitra Eames lounge chair design icon guide. If you need any help or advice on which lounge chair to choose read our helpful lounge chair buying guide.
The story of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman begins in Hollywood. Charles and Ray Eames visited their friend, celebrated British-American director Billy Wilder on set. Watching Wilder try to rest on makeshift lounge chairs between takes, they were inspired to design a chair that combined the elegance of an old English club chair with their signature playful, forward-thinking aesthetic. For the Eameses, comfort and functionality were just as important as style.
As Ray and Charles described it:
“The leather cushions do have built-in wrinkles to start with, but that is a clue that spells comfort to come, like the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.”
This vision gave birth to a chair that has become a timeless design icon, loved for both its ergonomic comfort and enduring beauty.
Unsure which version or finish suits you best? See our Vitra Eames Lounge Chair Colours & Materials Guide and compare the Eames lounge chair classic vs XL sizes.
The story of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman begins in Hollywood. Charles and Ray Eames visited their friend, celebrated British-American director Billy Wilder on set. Watching Wilder try to rest on makeshift lounge chairs between takes, they were inspired to design a chair that combined the elegance of an old English club chair with their signature playful, forward-thinking aesthetic. For the Eameses, comfort and functionality were just as important as style.
As Ray and Charles described it:
“The leather cushions do have built-in wrinkles to start with, but that is a clue that spells comfort to come, like the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.”
This vision gave birth to a chair that has become a timeless design icon, loved for both its ergonomic comfort and enduring beauty.
Unsure which version or finish suits you best? See our Vitra Eames Lounge Chair Colours & Materials Guide and compare the Eames lounge chair classic vs XL sizes.
who were charles and ray eames?
Few creative partnerships have left as lasting a mark as Ray and Charles Eames. Their influence goes far beyond furniture design, shaping how we live, relax, and think about form and function. For the Eameses, furniture was never just something to sit on; it was something to cherish, invest in, and pass down through generations. Their work blended Charles’ architectural expertise with Ray’s artistic eye for color, detail, and human warmth as Charles famously said, “Anything I can do, Ray can do better.”
The couple met at the prestigious Cranbrook Academy of Art, alongside design luminaries like Florence Knoll and Eero Saarinen. Charles brought precision and structure, while Ray infused playfulness and empathy, transforming modernism into something warm, human, and full of life.
After graduation, they founded the Eames Office in Los Angeles, experimenting with new materials and techniques, including their layered plywood process. By 1956, they introduced the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, a design that instantly became a modern classic and remains one of the most iconic pieces of furniture ever created.
The Eames Lounge Chair embodies the Eameses’ vision: timeless, functional, and deeply human, a piece of design history that continues to inspire and delight today.
The Vitra Eames Lounge Chair, possibly the world’s favourite chair, definitely a much-coveted piece of mid-century furniture, the Lounge Chair was first released in 1956 by Charles and Ray Eames.
Inspired by Billy Wilder, old English club chairs and a commitment to functional style, the chair is buttery soft and wrinkled to give it a lived-in feel.
Shop our original Vitra Eames Lounge Chair and read the Stories Behind the Eames Lounge Chair to get more inspiration and the Vitra Eames lounge chair design icon guide.
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