Eames Fiberglass chair DSW maple raw umber

In 1948, Charles and Ray Eames entered MoMA’s 'International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design' with a chair featuring a molded seat shell contoured to the human body and a concept for interchangeable bases. Their design won second prize, but the metal shell proved too complex for mass production. Seeking alternatives, the Eameses turned to fiberglass-reinforced polyester resin—a material then used mainly in military applications. They recognized its potential for industrial design: moldable, rigid, and ideal for manufacturing. The result was the groundbreaking Fiberglass Chair, the first of its kind with an organically shaped, one-piece shell—an innovation in both form and comfort.