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Herman Miller Reintroduces the Iconic Eames Dining Chair
August 21,
2025 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
Originally introduced by Herman Miller in 1970 as EC-127, the Eames Molded Plastic Dining Chair returns with an array of color and upholstery options and a more sustainable design. Made with 99 percent post-industrial recycled plastic and offered in contemporary colors, the chair is durable, spirited, and versatile. And for the first time ever, it's available in a non-upholstered version, making it an excellent choice for high-use environments like offices, libraries, dining rooms, and restaurants.
Charles and Ray Eames famously revisited and improved upon their designs, both in the moment and over time. They made the back legs of the 1946 DCM (dining chair-metal) longer for the DCM-L (for libraries), so it would support a more upright posture. The EC-127 was a more durable, upholstered version of the DCM-L. Instead of plywood, the Eames Office used reinforced plastic, which allowed them to add a new shock-absorbing rubber and metal mount that was stronger, easier to manufacture, and didn't alter the chair's form. It was an innovation that would be used in Eames plastic chairs for years to come. Today, the Eames Molded Plastic Dining Chair has an improved plastic frame that withstands the rigors of life, while its curved seat and back provide the perfect amount of support for activities like chatting, eating, and reading.
The color and upholstery options are inspired by the colors Charles and Ray Eames used on a prototype of "The Toy" (an architectural construction set for children made of colorful panels), which are also available on Eames Shell Chair, a design classic that has been in continuous production since 1950. The legs can be specified in classic chrome, in powder-coated saturated primary color options including blaze, marigold, and berry blue, or in black or white. For an extra layer of comfort and texture, the chair can be upholstered in one of the thoughtfully selected fabrics by Maharam, including Alexander Girard's Hopsak—an upholstery option available on the chair when it was originally introduced.
In keeping with Herman Miller's sustainability goals, the Eames Molded Plastic Dining Chair is made from 99 percent post-industrial recycled plastic. This exemplifies the Eameses' iterative process and their desire to make "the best for the most for the least," improving on their designs as new materials and processes became available. Continuing that approach by using innovative, environmentally forward materials is just one of many ways Herman Miller and the Eames Office are using design to do more for the planet.
"In addition to being comfortable and elegant, the EC-127 is a perfect exemplar of the Eameses belief in constant improvement of their own designs. As pioneers of the use of plastic for affordable and durable furniture, they applied that knowledge to eliminate the need for separate shock mounts. Their understanding of the qualities of plastic allowed the Eameses to merge those shock mounts with the seat and back while making the chair itself more lightweight—it also made possible greater color variety. Unsurprisingly, since the Eames Office of today is the very firm that Charles and Ray started, we've continued that process by working with Herman Miller to use the most environmentally friendly recycled plastics available to reintroduce this beautiful chair," says Eames Demetrios, Director of the Eames Office and the grandson of Charles and Ray Eames.
The Eames Molded Plastic Dining Chair can be purchased from Herman Miller in stores and online and through MillerKnoll dealers for contract customers. Timing, specifications, and availability vary by region. Visit the Herman Miller website for your region for availability.