Once upon a time, way back in the 1990s, America was a land of design philistines. According to the genesis story of Design Within Reach, it wasn't really the people's fault. We just didn't know.
Once upon a time, way back in the 1990s, America was a land of design philistines. According to the genesis story of Design Within Reach, it wasn't really the people's fault. We just didn't know.
Read more via Fast Company
10 Comments
though it has always been out of my reach, i did notice some unwelcome changes in the overall character of the store, but not as bad as the article revealed; it's amazing how bad things were getting
- looking forward to a new start -
wow, it's so infuriating to realize they're actually selling knock offs. How bizarre that product copyright laws offer so little protection - the objects have to be identical for a designer to actually win a lawsuit.
not that they will ever be in my reach.
ive never understood why a chair that was designed in the 50s and is manufactured with the same specs, materials dyes etc can cost two thousand dollars or more. why shouldnt the costs come down? its not like i'm trying to buy an original chair that charles eames spilled his beer on.
Screed button triggered....
I've been wondering about DWR for a long time. When they opened their third 'studio' in LA I was thinking they were waaay over-expanding/ saturating the market and I am surprised they have lasted this long and may even survive. Proof once again that business folks are only in it for the quick buck and are constitutionally incapable of comprehending any meaning of the word sustainable. Grrrr.
And vado I've always wondered the same thing, especially when the Eames stated intent was to make these things affordable. Moderism was supposed to bring us good quality at reasonable prices. WIthin reach of the masses, as it were.
I remember their first store over on Jackson in SF. They had Apple Cubes and 23" monitors and a very light and airy store.
Then they have stores everywhere.
I don't get it....
dwr's expansion helped put a few 'traditional' furniture stores out of business - like america needs another neo-colonial chest of draws or faux tiffany lamp made in china.
I'm just saying I'd rather see dwr commercials on tv...
Design Within Reach (of wealthy people)
Vado and Fog, right on! This has always driven me insane. The point was mass production and affordability of quality-built and designed items. If I want to spend a couple thousand dollars on a chair, I'm not buying something mass produced even by Charles Eames.
i know i went to the museum's design store which has the usual philipe starke, alessi business and there was a george nelson clock. a repro of course not an original and it was a wtf? 375 bucks. i know there is a fetishistic horde of midcentury modernist fans but the ones i know i think are seeking out the original items rather than the repros. i mean hell i have a repro of a 50s danelectro and i certainly wouldn't expect it to be as much as the original.
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