They were putting out the new line in NYC this week. The bedding and floor pillows are lovely. Also the small trays. I bought a ceramic butterfly tray.

I'm dying. so great. and i love that their prices are so reasonable!!!

Jonathan - Got your email, this was an amazing headsup today, thank you thank you thank you! Loving all of it.

Holly

That white chair is lovely, that's why Robin Day designed it in 1967

http://www.architonic.com/1012949

Not to mention the obvious Arne Jacobsen rip-offs

I love the bird rugs, but I wonder how long this latest bird-themed home dec craze is going to last.

Blue Steel? Ferrari? Le Tigre? They're the same face! Doesn't anybody notice this? I feel like I'm taking CRAZY pills!

(Mugatu, Zoolander 2001)

i really don't care if things are a rip off. isn't everything nowadays? at least it's affordable & pretty.

Is the West Elm Spring line made in the same Chinese sweat shops as the rest of their products?

I believe good design can be affordable. I also believe the affordability shouldn't come at the expense of worker conditions, wages and rights. Apartment Therapy is filled with designs to lust after but rarely a discussion about where products are manufactured.

Shouldn't good design also be about what is good for the planet and her people?

Ok. Edwin, so where is West Elm furniture manufactured? Rather than insinuating that it's AT's responsibility to look it up, you should produce the information yourself. Your approach here doesn't seem very responsible to me. Do your own homework.

People bitch about how early Christmas starts, retail-wise, but I actually HATE how early retailers jump to Spring, like Winter is over when the last sweater is returned.

Glad AT got an early sneak peek, but this early Spring Awakening just pisses me off. It's not even f^cking Christmas yet.

And Edwin, give us a f^cking break aboout the whole sweatshop argument. Where was your computer made?

P(too) speaks wisely.

It is incredibly depressing to face, say, February, with everyone proclaiming, "Spring! Spring! Spring!" -- when it's still cold, dank, and gray outside, and the mere thought of light, airy spring anything is ludicrous. Where is a "winter" look that's post-Xmas, for those of us armed with gift cards, but weeks from breaking out the tulips and sherbet?

Right now, those pretty West Elm photos are making me feel a need to toss another throw on the sofa and put on a warmer sweater.

The majority of West Elm furniture is made in China. Although It is getting increasingly difficult to learn where things are manufactured as many companies simply say "Imported" or use materials made in one country and assemble the product in another.

I wasn't suggested it was AT's responsibility to provide the information, I was merely suggesting that part of the discussion be about where a product is made and under what conditions.

In response to the comment "give us a f^cking break aboout the whole sweatshop argument":

I care about where the products I buy are made and what the conditions are like for workers. Why don't you? Is having cheap modern design in your home more important than the well-being of other people?

GEE EDWIN... I know you. You're the guy who stores numbers in your cell phone off of bathroom walls to convince yourself you have friends.

I shall call you the ENERGY SPONGE.

it works like this... normal (fun) people are having an interesting conversation when the ENERGY SPONGE walks up and invents some perfectly irrelevant tangent to the conversation designed to be as negative as possible. the SPONGE, oblivious to his surroundings and locked in a strange and depressing bubble of gloom, continues to drag the conversation into a deeper depressing shadow of mire. the normal people steal grimacing glances at one another and quickly make arrangements to never invite the SPONGE to a party ever again.

dry out sponge, you're sucking the life out of everyone.

I find it odd that West Elm (and to a lesser extent C&B and CB2) revamps their entire product line for the seasons. It's a great business move (at least temporarily) but it's also testament to how disposable their products are.

"GEE EDWIN... I know you. You're the guy who stores numbers in your cell phone off of bathroom walls to convince yourself you have friends."

diem - that was totally uncalled for. Edwin is making a good point about sweatshops and you turn to an infantile insult. Chill!

Unfortunately, most products that we use on a day to day basis are made cheaply overseas. Othewise, we couldn't afford to use them on a day to day. It sucks and I admire Edwin for bringing it up. But as much as I'd like to buy on American Made products it's getting harder and harder to do unless we're willing to fork over more money. I guess we all just have to weigh our options and make the decision that works for both our wallets and our conscience.

On another note, I'm getting really tired of the WE "look". All these boxy, featureless pieces of furniture are falling off my list of things to consider and shop. I DO like some things they carry but on the whole I'm pretty over this stuff.

What is Edwin's beef with China? That argument makes no sense. Most stuff is made in China now and not because of "sweatshop" labor. Do you even know anything you're talking about Edwin? And yes I am asking as a Chinese American myself who has family that still lives and works on mainland China. There are some countries in the world where there are questionable manufacturing practices and of course there is probably "sweatshop" conditions in some places but that is true everywhere including in the U.S. Factory jobs for American products are the best to have in China and when a job opens there is a line around the block for it because the pay is better and the conditions and because there is a chance to earn a lot. Don't compare your standard of living with how people live around the world because it is different for everyone and the cost of living is lower (or higher) in different countries.

As for the post I like the white chair but I have a bigger problem with West Elm that they are always out of stock.

I like that chair for an office but I don't care for shiny metal skinny legs on my home furniture.

I agree with Anne. West Elm stuff looks great, used sparingly and mised with other styles. The whole West Elm/Crate and Barrel room is tired. It's just like having a whole DWR room. I think I'm ready for custom...

The U.S. hegemony is on the wane. China and India will be the next world superpowers.

I try to buy products made by workers paid a living wage (for their economy) in countries where there are not widespread human rights violations.

American companies increasingly manufacture goods in China because of the availability of cheap labor and lack of environmental and labor laws. That low cost comes on the backs of workers. To learn more, I suggest you visit Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org) and watch the documentary, "The Corporation".

non-West Elm question: anyone have a guess at the pretty green paint color behind the white chair? i love it.

When we talk about design we are often talking about commodity. As such, I believe there is always a space to consider the origins of products as we are discussing them. Over on The Kitchen there have been many conversations about the labor that goes into food resources. It is equally appropriate here.

GEE ANNE,
why don't you call up edwin and take a trip to china. because I can guarantee that neither of you have been there. and while your at it why not GOOGLE "sweatshops in new york city", why not google the "living wage in the united states of america", interpolate the difference in population of china (1.3 billion) with the population of the united states (.3 billion), factoring in the cost of an acre of land, the cost of a bowl of rice, the fat content of a McDonalds BigMac and interject your high-and-mighty opinion of how the chinese should WANT to live their lives... and then google alcoholism, and drug addiction... and then try "consumer" and if you think that this RANT is a misplaced....

this topic is about the new line from West Elm. and if you don't care about it then don't care. and don't interject your tangential negative opinions of something you know nothing about.

so far i'm only negative about edwin + anne. as for west elm...

I, as an american consumer, may use "froogle" or "price-grabber" or "e-pinions" or "apartmenttherapy.com" to research the lowest price of an object i find unique, and thus purchase said object of high quality and unique design from the vendor that supplies the most reasonable price.

Personally I offer praise to West Elm for their unique selection and commitment to high quality design in addition to VALUE. Its easy to go to italy and drop $10,000 on a sweet looking sofa. its equally easy to drop $10,000 on a rolex. the challenge for the rest of us 3 billion people is to be able to afford to purchase (and thus support) design we feel compelling.

Cheers!! to contemporary design + to West Elm for trying to make it affordable on an architect's salary.

... ahh the holiday cheer ...

Psst.. I heard CB2 + IKEA MAY purchase some of their products from overseas as well...I wonder if Herman Miller uses chinese labor....(google "Herman Miller China" to see the answer.)

Is it truly a value when workers are exploited? Wages in Dongguan, a major furniture manufacturing area in Southeast China, are as low as $.30 per hour. Internal industry documents reviewed by BusinessWeek reveal that numerous Chinese factories keep double sets of books to fool auditors and distribute scripts for employees to recite if they are questioned about labor practices. Perhaps some goods should cost more money.

There are companies that deliver value to the consumer and provide their workers with a living wage. American Apparel is a great example of one such company.

I hope Apartment Therapy can be a place where people discuss not only the great design of products and their value- but also the larger impact the company's practices have. Then people can make an intelligent choice based upon their values.

And this isn't about telling workers what they should want. It is about recognizing the impact the race to the lowest price is having on communities both near and far.

If you were face to face with the 13 year old girl who worked for pennies a day in what is little more then a labor camp to make your cheap West Elm bedside table, what would you say? Would you thank her?

I never thought I would encounter someone in the 21st century who thought paying a living wage and providing basic human rights was a "high and mighty opinion". I feed sad for you.

Hello Edwin,
I'm not completely disagreeing with your point, but next time you're in a fight about good working conditions and against exploitation, I'm not completely sure you want to bring up American Apparel as your model company. Dov Charney (the CEO/president) is notorious for encouraging a sexually hostile environment in his workplace, so although employees are getting a living wage, they may also be receiving a healthy dose of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation.

Goosey-

My understanding is all sexual harassment claims against American Apparel were dismissed. I would be interested in any additional information you may be aware of.

My point was that companies can pay employees a living wage while selling products at reasonable prices.

I commend Edwin for bringing this aspect of the design world to the forum. However, I agree that it would be better received if it included information to further dialogue rather than simplistic comments with little value.

As someone who has traveled through China, I have to say you're kidding yourself if you don't think what happens "over there" doesn't effect us "over here." I love all the resources and comments on AT but feel that information about what goes into making all these great objects is relevant and (increasingly) important.

The latest issue of dwell which focuses on "craft" is a great example of how this type of dialogue belongs in design forums, which are usually full of "thinking" people.

As for diem. Dude, lighten up. Everyone's entitled to an opinion and you're killing my holiday buzz :)

Happy Holidays everyone! La la la!!

I'm with edwin - i love design and i love bargains but i find it incredibly depressing that most of the furniture i like is produced in china. the fact is, and it is a fact, that the majority of workers in China and India work and live in deplorable conditions. The fact that we're all interested in good design means that we're also smart and wise enough to want more than just a pretty but cheap chair. We can also want a better world in every way. Okay, happy holidays all!

I had dinner with a former marketing exec at West Elm once, and he commented, "I don't know who are those guys that keep buying the crap we make."

I think it's brilliant that West Elm has convinced us to think of their cheap crap as affordable design to drool over. Let's not pretend that West Elm is well-made, and this has direct bearing on the question of what good design is about, which incidentally Apartment Therapy is a forum for. I think what Edwin is saying is extremely relevant. Thank you for bringing it up in the first place.

First off, the thing that bothers me is that all of these "design blogs" constantly post West Elm products. If this blog, and so many similar ones, are truly about design then why undercut the person who originally came up with the concept by sending the business to West Elm?

The second issue is China and the need for affordable durable goods here in the US and how we all benefit. Not all people here in the US can even afford to shop at West Elm. There is a huge demand for products at a low price and that is the sole reason that Wal Mart is such a huge success. It is certainly not for the shopping experience. Wal Mart is a hell hole, IMO. But they have low prices and people pack their stores.

China is booming right now because of companies that sell to places like Wal Mart and many others that are considerably more "upscale". Now that the country has opened its doors to capitalism, the people are enjoying a standard of living like never before. I know this from conversations that I have had with Asian manufacturers that I know that travel to China frequently. Ask the people there what they think about working in the factories and they will tell you that is it an excellent opportunity for them to work and raise their family's standard of living.

There is a very good documentary that is running on TV lately. I think it may be the Discovery Times channel called something like "China Rises". There is one segment about 3 young people in China and how they are adapting to the new economy. I found it to be very interesting and in tune from what I hear from people who have traveled there personally.

Speaking as someone who designs and builds custom cabinetry it seems that a little perspective on multinationals besides "gee it's pretty and gosh it's cheap!" may be helpfull.

Most sheet stock (furniture grade plywood) is now being produced in China with an American hardwood face veneer. Over the course of the last 18 months the plywood manufacturing has shifted from Canada and the U.S. to China. The result is that the product that previously sold for $45-105 (depending on veneer face and quality), now sells for $45-105 - with the value added bonus of the material being far crappier (delaminates, warps and bows in a way plywood is not suppossed to and smells obscene when milling).

Plywood is a commodity that we've now seen completely offshored with respect to manafacturing. The prices, however, have remained the same. "Make it cheap" is the mantra that some buy into, but cheap seldom is. What's really occurred is that those jobs which would have added value to a raw domestic material have now been exported to another country.

You now are faced with paying the same price for an INFERIOR product. Additionally, the price of the cabinet that I build has to reflect the waste of time and overhead when the product does fail.

Manafacturing employs various models to achieve profits. If it's made cheap enough and priced to sell then the model can support what it projects as a profitable failure rate.

So shop at Wallfart, buy cheap knockoffs, what the hell it's some other kid that's getting raped for you to have it so cheap.

Whoah sorry, I might be sending out bad vibes to someone's rainbow and sucking their will to live without thinking.

I'm very encouraged to find this discussion on AT - in fact I had more than one conversation about these very topics during recent holiday get-togethers.

I'm in complete agreement with Edwin T's comments (including the recommendation to watch the film "the Corporation" - very eye-opening!). These issues are entirely relevant right now, especially on this site which is all about the consumption of good design.

There's a reason well-designed and well-crafted pieces cost more. If anyone, the readers on this site should understand and appreciate those facts, and they should be the first ones in line to defend the highest value for such items. When are we going to reward good design with the value it deserves?

When considering which products to purchase, we need to re-assess our priorities for choosing... Good design is the first barometer for most readers here, next we've learned to be "smart consumers" who price compare to find the "best bargain" -- but we need to become "educated consumers" who learn to choose products that sustain life and humane living - and maybe that should be our primary concern before checking price tags. Just because a product can be produced elsewhere more cheaply doesn't mean it should be.

Maybe ultimately it means we need to reduce or even curtail our consumption if our desires can't be satisfied without sacrificing the quality of life for others on this planet.

Less quantity, more quality - both in the product, and in the lives of the people producing it.

I too find it sad that others find this idea-sharing to be an "energy sponge" - this must be a philosophy rooted in some other doctrine, because I've heard these exact terms too much lately. It's not a bad thing to think for yourself or to hear different points of view.

I'm just happy and utterly surprised to see so many different people younger than I (29) who have such different points of view that are able to express them in a convincing and (for the most part) eloquent manner. I thought true debate was only left in the $20,000/year college prep MIDDLE schools with their smart and starched little uniforms. Thank gods there are 20 somethings that still haven't rotted their brains completely and have (again, for the most part) intelligent views and opinions to express. Or maybe it's just because we all probably live in Manhattan and most likely were once one of those stiff little private schoolers; well, at least some of us came out alive... and I use "us" very loosely, at least the part of "us" that includes myself. Like the Bush, Dick (and for good measure I'll throw Colon in there) said: "Shop, Shop, Shop!" gods know why.

Just for the record: I was one of the posters above and...
- I don't live in Manhattan or for that matter anywhere near Long Island
- I'm not younger than 29 either
- I didn't attend private school, just an average middle-class public school with all of "K-12" in only 2 buildings
- there are many people like myself reading and participating in forums like this, and yeah I think that's awesome
- I'm glad you appreciate hearing our voices
- (Thanks AT for providing this venue!)

My "hip" thrift store couch is falling apart. I need some new furniture. I want to buy locally created/manufactured design, but I cannot afford to spend $2500-3000. I like simple, modern design. West Elm design, though not my dream furniture, is livable for me, and some of their products ARE made in USA. I have just ordered myself the West Elm armless sectional couch, made in USA, four units which includes an ottoman, for under $1000- on sale.
I would have gladly paid twice that if I could have found a locally produced couch with style, but I looked and there are none. So I am the person that buys the crap they make. I will not be trading it in for next years model, but living with it until it falls apart, hopefully it will last at least the 10 years my thrift store couch did.
What I want to know is , I live in LA, land of Eames, Art Center, etc, etc, Why is no one here manufacturing simple, beautiful, affordable furniture? Eames created his products to be utilitarian and affordable. Talented local designers are now only interested in creating luxury goods.

Hey Julie,

That's great that you did try to find out if a local shop could produce what you're looking for. Even better that you were concerned at all about where it was going to come from. Unfortunately, anything that is made and can be warehoused for a length of time is going to eventually be offshored. It's what's killing our furniture industry as we speak. The cost of having a seperate manufacturing process for every style or peice of furniture, and then having it warehoused so that the customer will get it quickly is very expensive. Having it built overseas and container shipped has been a lower cost model becouse you can factor out overhead like building structures to meet U.S. firecode, OSHA compliance for workers safety, health, liability insurances and so on. Oh yeah, and then there's the environmental safeguards. Sadly, none of these issues were a part of the free trade agreements that makes the flow of goods and capital so easy today. It puts the U.S. manufacturer at a disadvantage to compete. That's what goes into the cost of overhead that a Chinese factory doesn't have. What the people at West Elm or Crate and Barrel doesn't tell you is what they pay at the wholesale level. Their profit margins are huge whereas for the U.S. counterpart they are much smaller. The people who have benefitted from the exporting of jobs, environmental protections and workers' safety are the distributors, like West Elm.

As a custom furniture-maker, I enjoy working on projects for people like you. Unfortunately, a misconception these days is that craftsman like myself only want to create "luxury goods".
The success of marketers in recent years has redefined our expectations for "affordable".

I think about my parents' purchases when I was young - they saved and researched until they found just the piece they were looking for - always with an eye for beautiful design, quality materials and worksmanship that would last - because throughout my childhood they were also educating me to these attributes, and intended that one day I'd inherit their purchases, that in fact they'd become heirlooms. Marketers have learned that philosophy restrains us from purchasing the quanities they'd like us to.

So all of this is a long-winded way to try explaining why you can't find local craftspeople to create something you'd call "affordable".

Tim,

I found your comments very insightful. Thank you for sharing your unique perspective.

Are you aware of any trade groups or other organizations that promote furniture made in the USA?

I am finding it increasingly difficult to learn where a product is manufactured. Thankfully some retailers, such as Room and Board, IKEA and Design Within Reach, clearly provide this information online and in their print catalogs. Brocade Home is by far the worse- after repeated calls and emails to them they were unable to provide information about the country of origin.

Tim, what a wonderful reminder!

"I think about my parents' purchases when I was young - they saved and researched until they found just the piece they were looking for - always with an eye for beautiful design, quality materials and worksmanship that would last - because throughout my childhood they were also educating me to these attributes, and intended that one day I'd inherit their purchases, that in fact they'd become heirlooms. Marketers have learned that philosophy restrains us from purchasing the quanities they'd like us to."