Eames DSW Fibreglass

When Charles Eames designed the DSW he intended for the seat to be moulded from one sheet of plastic therefore making it a more cost effective venture, and keeping the sale price down. To realise this Charles and Ray Eames would need to utilise a material strong enough to withstand the varying weight of full-grown adults. Which is probably why the Eames' chose fibreglass, a plastic that has become far less commonly available today. Eames entered the chair into the 'low-cost' furniture competition held by MOMA.  Charles Eames worked in collaboration with Zenith plastics to develop and produce the DSW chair which is also commonly referenced as the side chair.

What is fibreglass?

Fibreglass is a form of plastic that is reinforced with fibres. The fibreglass effect can create a sheen on the final product that makes it glisten, this is often the tell tale sign that the plastic is constructed from fibreglass as opposed to other types of plastic commonly used today such as ABS or polypropylene.

Why did Charles Eames choose fibreglass?

Fiberglass is a very strong easily mouldable material. It has many advantages such as it's fire proof, can be coloured, can be made to be shiny or dull, it can withstand all weather conditions and it is fireproof. In the 1950s fibreglass was less expensive than it is today because Charles and Ray Eames aspired to created a chair that was affordable to the everyday American rather than create an exclusive product.