When I was in Japan in May, one of my favorite places was the giant MUJI store in Tokyo's Ginza neighborhood — more MUJI than I'd ever seen before! In addition to more familiar clothing, office supplies and homegoods, the multi-level store included a small grocery store, MUJI appliances (vacuums, toasters, irons, coffee makers, etc) MUJI bicycles, and one of the most exciting things — an introduction to the MUJI and Thonet collaboration.
New in Japan, the collaboration between the Japanese retailer and the German furniture maker has now made it to the US — I spotted the 4 pieces in the US collection at the MUJI on 18th Street last week. Two of the pieces are in the Bentwood Collection, designed by James Irvine, the creative director of Thonet.
The essence of a bentwood Thonet chair was merged with the modern simplicity of the MUJI aesthetic. Notice how the single panel in the back of the chair is exactly the width and height of the table!
In the US, the Thonet Beech Bentwood Chair is available in Brown for $496 and the table (31.5" square) is $796.
I'll post the rest of the collection by Konstantin Grcic, soon!
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Am I the only person who's really underwhelmed by the products of this collaboration?
view 1GH's profile
I'd have to see more of MUJI and Thonet to judge. MUJI in general is a force for good. I really enjoy the collection MoMA has put together in the design store. MUJI & MoMA offer the only reasonable coffee table alternative for less than $150 -- unless you're either a carpenter or get a great vintage buy.
Btw, the MUJI socks may look underwhelming, but in terms of comfort they're the best. MUJI offers a lot of straightforward consumer goods that are well-designed and affordable. Check out the MoMA design store online ...
I wish there was an American equivalent of MUJI. The Swedish equivalent is, of course, IKEA.
view AustinSarah's profile
Anyone notice it has been purposefully photographed to disguise the odd bar going across the back of the chair? It looks an unfinished design.
view Comicgeek's profile
My lower back aches just looking at the photos.
And are the chairs too low, or is the table too high? Somehow the proportions look off.
view mirandabee's profile
The chairs look terribly uncomfortable: I wouldn't want to sit for a 3 course meal on one.
view Francesca's profile