Philippe Starck was one of the first designers to take the Navy chair out of its original context and place it into modern design-focused settings. When Gregg Buchbinder has just taken over Emeco in 1999, he ran into Starck in a hallway at hte ICFF trade show in NYC. Gregg said, “Mr. Starck, thank you for using our chairs at the Paramount Hotel.” After thinking a moment, Starck asked, “The Navy Chair? Do you own the company? I thought it was owned by a bunch of old army guys! I’d like to design a chair for Emeco.” Thus began a close, lasting and prolific relationship between Emeco and Philippe Starck - a relationship that launched Emeco's transformation from a U.S. Navy supplier into one of the top design furniture brands.