LessThanFive Chair: Modern Craft in an Industrial Age

When the LessThanFive chair was first released by Coalesse in 2014, the product received acclaim for its lightweight durability, clean lines, and the affordability of its typically costly carbon fiber structure. Named for its less-than-five-pound weight, the chair is ideal for settings where reconfiguration and movement are necessities, such as cafes and collaboration spaces. Indeed, this product’s combination of utilities — being both lightwight and comfortable — makes it a standout in the endless sea of chair options. But while the LessThanFive chair is lauded for its light weight, what defines this chair is not the fact that you can hold it with one hand — it’s the fact that many hands have held it on its way to you.

For LessThanFive, every step of the manufacturing process involves human craftsmanship, from digital design to assembly. Indeed, the LessThanFive chair caters to a growing interest in handcrafted goods. While industrialization in the modern age has created a massive amount of products and options, it has also made for a lack of variation and purpose in the everyday products around us. In response to this mass production of consumer goods, the demand for handcrafted items is rising. In fact, Etsy, an online shop for handmade goods, has approximately 20.8 million annual buyers  (according to The Wall Street Journal, subscription needed). Through sites like Etsy, the work of artisans and artists has been made as globally accessible as products of industrialization. Subsequently, consumers are increasingly choosing handcrafted products that have a story, a human touch, and a higher level of craftsmanship. The LessThanFive chair joins this diverse array of artisan products.

The LessThanFive chair is made even more personalized with the capability to apply custom colors and patterns through the Customizer App. With this new component, designers and specifiers can exercise unbridled creativity over the chair’s finish, allowing them to apply funky prints, exact color codes, and more.

With thoughtful design, handcrafted comfort, and lightweight durability, the LessThanFive chair is an excellent way to customize your space and complement your culture. Interested in taking a seat for yourself? Connect with us here or at info@custerinc.com, or learn more at  the LessThanFive page on Coalesse.com.

Custer is proud to bring you insights from our partner, Steelcase.