EA218 Upholstery Prototype

While the original 1969 offering of Soft Pad chairs only included designs upholstered in leather, soon after launch the office began to explore options for specifying the design in a variety of textiles designed by Alexander Girard. This generated new technical requirements, including the need to prevent the cushions from sagging. Sagging was a common problem with traditional upholstery fillings like hay or horsehair, which tend to become unevenly distributed with use. To avoid such problems, the Eameses instead turned to synthetic foam that retains its shape over time. Even so, the slight sagging seen on this prototype highlights the fact that foam was not a cure-all solution. Here, the sagging resulted from the fact that the cushions’ edges were sealed with piping. Eventually, the problem was remedied by using double-needle top stitching, a laborious but effective solution that was key to producing a plush, comfortable, and durable chair for offices, lobbies, and any other public venue that called for elegance and comfort.