The Emeco Navy Chair has been in continuous production since the mid 1940’s and quite rightly earned the status of a design classic. Not only does it capture the idea of beauty in simplicity, but also greatly promotes the environmentally conscious approach is furniture production.

The origins of the Navy Chair were not style-oriented at all. When Wilton Carlyle Dinges was commissioned to make chairs for U.S aircraft carriers and submarines in 1944, he aimed for chairs that would be lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant and cost-efficient. Indeed, an elaborate production process (involving  as many as 77 steps) made the chair virtually indestructible – as the company lore has it, tough enough to withstand a torpedo blast.

Nobody expected that half a century later the simple, aluminum concept would become an icon in interior design. Today it is considered a symbol of modern industrial chic, perfect for contemporary, minimalist interiors. The basic silvery models, available in dining chair size and in barstool form, are a stylish addition to austere, industrial-looking kitchens, but are so versatile in  character that you may even use them around a wooden table and they will not look out of place.

Source: Houzz

If you’re not a fan of the cold aluminum look, you can still find something to suit your taste in the Emeco collection. The chairs come in different colors – red, green, charcoal, persimmon and white – so they mix well with a variety of finishes and themes.

Source: Houzz

What’s worth mentioning, people at Emeco are greatly dedicated to the idea of sustainable production. The chairs are made almost entirely of industrial waste, and the most outstanding example of this environmentally conscious policy is the 111 Navy Chair, made of 111 recycled Coca-Cola bottles.

Source: designitgreener