Andrée Putman

Andrée Putman, the iconic French designer and tastemaker had a discerning eye that effortlessly bridged fashion and interior design. Emeco's owner Gregg Buchbinder remembers the first project meeting: “Andrée arrived in these 6 inch stilettos. She is the most stylish woman I have ever known. She told me she wanted to do with the Emeco chair what her friend Coco Chanel did with the little black dress.

Emeco and Gregg Buchbinder's collaboration with Andrée Putman told by Jaye Buchbinder

In the back of the vast Emeco factory in Hanover, Pennsylvania, there are a few hidden rooms. To some, these rooms are not worthwhile – to others, it's a treasure trove. This is where you can find the chair from Britney Spear’s “Stronger” music video that somehow didn't make it to the factory museum (yet). There’s a gold painted 1006 Navy chair of unclear origins and a Navy Officer chair with a carpet-like upholstery that survived the war. On a recent trip, I unwrapped an old chair – which became a new favorite; the Morgans chair by Andrée Putman for the Morgans Hotel in NYC.

To be totally honest, this was the first time I have felt drawn to the chair. Not that I was averse before, but opening it felt like a discovery, a treasure. The personality of the chair came to life and kicked off a little digging.

Both my dad Gregg and Alev, Emeco’s CEO, were willing to humor this digging. Alev agreed that seeing the chair again, she was reminded of its relevance and gracefulness. She also explained that my American accent was absolutely destroying the pronunciation of Putman (try: Pootmahhn). A distinctive Emeco chair with a feminine flair.

My dad lit up talking about Andrée Putman, the iconic French designer and tastemaker with a discerning eye that effortlessly bridged fashion and interior design. Gregg first met Putman at a private dinner party in New York in 2007. Putnam then contacted him to make a chair for her 25th anniversary redesign of Morgans Hotel.

Putman originally designed the Morgans Hotel in 1984 for Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, founders of the legendary Studio 54. It is widely considered the world’s first boutique hotel and introduced a new language of hospitality, one of intimate, thoughtful luxury where experience takes precedence over display. Designed on a modest budget, the hotel stood for an aesthetic revolution — the hotel is at once New York, timeless, and profoundly human. Looking at the old photos of the Morgans Hotel and Putman’s signature black-and-white checkerboard bathroom, I’m in awe. You can see how it earnt her the nickname “La Reine du Damier”, or Queen of the Checkerboard.

My dad was understandably honored for Emeco to be a small part of the anniversary redesign. He remembers the first project meeting: “Andrée arrived in these 6 inch stilettos. She is the most stylish woman I have ever known. She told me she wanted to do with the Emeco chair what her friend Coco Chanel did with the little black dress - to create a simple, smart, sexy chair that never goes out of style.” He also recalled the launch of the chair in 2008 at the famed Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, and the subsequent European launch party in Paris. A long way from home for a little Pennsylvania chair.

The Morgans chair itself is straightforward, simple, and classic – just as Putman intended. A bent one-piece extrusion forms the rounded backrest, with the standard back legs of the 1006 Navy chair. An aluminum sheet is fitted to the front and welded all around. Cue Emeco’s tried and tested craft process, where all welds are ground perfectly down, the chair is heat treated to achieve Emeco’s signature strength and durability, and the surface is hand brushed, or in the case of my find – hand polished to perfection. For the Morgans Hotel, the chairs were powder-coated a glossy white to match the interiors of the hotel rooms.

I'm not sure why we stopped making the chair – more digging needed. But unwrapping it after all these years sparked something. I have a feeling a comeback is on the horizon.