Knock-offs

Maybe it is the life-cop in me. Maybe I watched too many Batman and Spider-man episodes when growing up. Nevertheless, it irks me when I see smaller, innovative designers get their imagination ripped-off by uber-corporations that care less about creativity and craftsmanship, and more about profits and operating efficiencies.

I hate to name names, but let's just start with...

Victim #1: Emeco

Emeco makes beautifully crafted, original Navy Chairs.

Since 1944, Emeco is known for durability, craftsmanship and quality. Emeco starts with the highest quality materials, engages craftsmen with years of expertise and follows a unique 77-step process to create chairs that you will trust and appreciate for years - or Emeco will replace them (a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser that all chairs and stools be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and conditions for life)!

The chairs are individually sculpted masterpieces, comprising of one continuous piece of aluminum without seems. The result is a chair that is 3X stronger than steel and extremely durable to weather, time and corrosion.

Culprit #1: Target

Emeco did a study to compare their chair with the blatant obvious Target knock-off (at a cheaper price of course).

Following is a comparison of Emeco original 1006 Navy ™ chair vs. Target’ Knock-off product. It is obvious
this chair was created merely to mimic the look of Emeco and no effort was taken to produce a chair that will
hold up. This will give fact based evidence to share with architects & designers so they understand the
liability associated with specifying this product.

The Bends
Tubing used on the Target chair is T4 (semi hard) when it is bent. This causes the inside radius to be very
bumpy –the outside radius becomes concave. Emeco uses 0 Temper tubing to form the bends which produces a smooth radius inside and outside. Once the smooth radius bends are made Emeco chairs go through (2) heating treating steps transforming the 0 Temper tube to T6 – as strong as a bike frame in strength.

Ground Smooth Welds
The welds on the Target chairs are not ground smooth like on Emeco. The front legs on the Emeco chair are engineered as an integral part of the chair – this makes the chair super strong. The Target leg is merely spot welded underneath the seat pan – an extremely week connection which will not pass BIFMA.

Integrated Leg
Emeco craftsmen weld each leg as an integral part of the seat pan. The Emeco chair then goes through the
following steps – (1) weld is ground smooth, (2) two heat treating processes taking the 0-temper aluminum
to T6, (3) hand brushed finish, (4) clear anodizing.

The Target chair is actually painted with silver paint and brush marks are applied to look like an Emeco. The final temper on the seat bottom remains at 0 temper and the legs which are not integrated remain at T4

Well...decide for yourself. Personally I go for the original. The lifetime guarantee.

Who's next on my hit-list?

Comments

[susan]

I completely agree with not buying the knock off. I also find stores which carry those products are not sound in their other business practices either and as a consumer do not support them.
It is sad to see how many people support these stores just for the "look" ... ususally their stuff is found curbside in a matter of months too. Support the designer/artist. But originals.Feel good!

[Zach Bodish]

Yes,yes-77 part process, Bifma, t-6- blah blah (you have the propaganda down pat). The fact remains that the reason there is a market for ANY knock-off is that the real thing costs more than a typical consumer can afford.

[Jason Saglog]

Urm... I'm confused. You want us to buy Emeco instead of Target, because Target is a big ugly corporation? For the record Emeco chairs are awesome, but it's hardly a small designer/artist. Emeco is a massive manufacturer that services government contracts (hence the Navy chair). They're not hurting.

[Greg]

I think that you get what you pay for in terms of quality.

Though the main reason I would buy Emeco is that I would far rather support the innovator of the chair (the designer), than someone simply ripping off designs.

Plus, Emeco is hand-crafted in the US...