How the Acapulco Chair Became a Design Classic for Indoor and Outdoor Use

March 24, 2024, 12:46 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

Anything but ordinary: The colorful Acapulco Chair quickly conquered the global interior design scene from Mexico. To this day, it is considered a cult-status piece of furniture and remains a popular choice for decorating both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Mexico is known for colorful festivals, spicy food, and sombreros–summer hats with extra-wide brims. The latter, in particular, are reminiscent of a design classic still popular today: the Acapulco Chair. This is notable because Mexico is not typically recognized for outstanding furniture designs. Yet, this piece has achieved worldwide fame, partly because it is a versatile seating option. Originally intended for outdoor use, it eventually found its way indoors.

Colorful and Flexible

When it comes to lounge furniture, the Acapulco Chair stands out among other renowned classics. True to Mexican folklore, the chair is strikingly colorful: coral, lime yellow, and petrol are just a few examples of the many color options available.

The design is equally unconventional: elastic plastic cords tightly wrapped around a simple metal frame in white or black transform the mere piece of furniture into a handcrafted product. Its flexible design and unique construction, where the seat and backrest are essentially one, also simplify stacking the chairs.

Acapulco Chair on the balcony — The Acapulco Chair represents special comfort

And that’s not all: the furniture classic is known for its multifunctional use. Whether on the home terrace, a small city balcony, or in the living room, it makes a good impression. The Acapulco Chair also fits well in an office lounge area, hotel lobby, or beach club. No matter where the comfortable chair is placed, indoors or outdoors, it always evokes wanderlust while simultaneously exuding Mexican joie de vivre.

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A Glorious History

It is not really known who originally designed the Acapulco Chair. What is certain is that it has been mass-produced since the 1950s. The famous chair was named after the once-glamorous seaside resort in Mexico, where American celebrities of the time gathered.

From Elvis and Frank Sinatra to Brigitte Bardot and Liz Taylor, and even the Kennedys, they all enjoyed their jet-set lifestyle at this popular Pacific Coast hotspot. Thus, the Acapulco Chair is surrounded by a glorious (origin) story. It’s no wonder that the modern, colorful seating quickly became known beyond Mexico’s borders.

Because its origin is in Mexico, the Acapulco Chair was named after the coastal region popular with jet-setters. — Because its origin is in Mexico, though the exact original creation is unknown, the Acapulco Chair was simply named after the coastal region, extremely popular with jet-setters.

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The reissue was later taken over by “Ok Design.” The Danish furniture manufacturer has the cult object handcrafted in a small workshop in Mexico City, true to its origins. In addition to the many colorful variants that contrast with the frame, the lounge chair is also available in monochromatic–or tone-on-tone–models.

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A Fair, Sustainable Piece of Furniture

Acapulco Chair in yellow and white — Today, a lot of emphasis is placed on fairness and sustainability in the production of the famous Mexican chair.

Sustainability is also a significant aspect of today’s production of the Acapulco Chair. Fair conditions apply to all manufacturers, workers, and suppliers. Additionally, only materials free of phthalates and heavy metals are used. For the sake of the environment, predominantly recycled plastic is used in production.

However, a product that has achieved such international cult status is not immune to counterfeits. As a result, there are numerous copies worldwide from various manufacturers and in different versions. The original, however, is distinguished by high-quality material selection and craftsmanship.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.