09/17/2026
Philippe Starck was one of the first designers to take the Navy chair out of its original context and place it into modern design-focused settings. When Gregg Buchbinder had just taken over Emeco in 1999, he ran into Starck in a hallway at the ICFF trade show in NYC. Gregg said, “Mr. Starck, thank you for using our chairs at the Paramount Hotel.” After thinking a moment, Starck asked, “The Navy Chair? Do you own the company? I thought it was owned by a bunch of old army guys! I’d like to design a chair for Emeco.”
Philippe Starck shifted the trajectory of Emeco, and we are forever grateful for the friendship.
Read the full story about Emeco and Gregg Buchbinder's first collaboration with Philippe Starck, told by Jaye Buchbinder: https://www.emeco.net/design/philippe-starck
1. Philippe Starck on a Hudson rocker, 2001. This special rocker was signed by all Emeco craftsmen and gifted to Starck in 2001, see image 5.
2. Hand polished Hudson rocking armchair, 2000.
3. Philippe Starck at the Emeco factory in Hanover, Pennsylvania, 1999.
4. Hudson chair in its original setting, Ian Schrager's Hudson New York Hotel.
5. Close-up of Hudson rocker gifted to Starck in 2001. The chair back is signed by all Emeco craftsmen.
