Vitra doesn't design the classics. It makes them. The Fehlbaum family started it in 1950, fell for Charles and Ray Eames on a trip to New York, and won the rights to build their work, and George Nelson's, for Europe. The Panton Chair, the Eames Lounge, the Aluminium Group, all Vitra. Every Vitra piece here is an original, authenticated and restored, then delivered in 1 to 5 days. Originals only.
Vitra, Maker of the Modern Classics Since 1950
Vitra was founded in 1950 by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum in Weil am Rhein, first making shop display cases, which is where the name comes from, the French vitrine. A 1953 trip to New York introduced the family to the furniture of Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson; they licensed it from Herman Miller and began making it in Europe in 1957. In 1967 came the Panton Chair, the first cantilever chair moulded in a single piece of plastic.
Since 1984 Vitra has held the European rights to the Eames and Nelson designs, and it makes them alongside work by contemporary designers such as Jasper Morrison and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. It all comes from the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, a landmark in its own right, with buildings by Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando and Herzog and de Meuron, and the Vitra Design Museum. An authentic Vitra piece carries that lineage. A copy carries none of it.
New, Vitra is priced as a premium brand: an Eames Lounge runs to several thousand pounds, and even a Panton Chair is a few hundred. The market is also full of unlicensed copies. Every original at REHAUS is authenticated against the real thing, restored where needed, and delivered in 1 to 5 days, usually at well under the new price. Design doesn't depreciate. The Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial mean reduced risk on a genuine piece. Browse the originals.
Vitra: frequently asked questions
What is Vitra?
Vitra is a family-owned furniture company founded in 1950 by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum in Weil am Rhein. It makes many of the twentieth century's modern classics in Europe, including the Eames and George Nelson designs and Verner Panton's Panton Chair, alongside work by contemporary designers. Its campus near the Swiss-German border is a landmark of modern architecture.
Does Vitra make the original Eames chairs?
Yes, for Europe. After discovering the Eames designs in New York in 1953, Vitra produced them under licence from Herman Miller from 1957, and since 1984 has held the rights to the Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson designs for Europe and the Middle East. A Vitra Eames is an authentic original, not a reproduction.
Where can I buy authentic, pre-owned Vitra in the UK?
REHAUS sells authenticated, original Vitra in the UK. Every piece is checked against the real thing, restored where needed, and delivered nationwide in 1 to 5 days. You buy from one company, not a private seller, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial behind it. Stock changes often, since each piece is one of one.
How do I know a Vitra piece is authentic and not a copy?
Genuine Vitra carries maker's marks, correct materials and construction, and a traceable lineage back to the licensed design. The market is full of unlicensed copies, especially of the Panton and Eames chairs. Every Vitra piece at REHAUS is authenticated against the original before it is listed, so you are buying the real thing, not a look-alike.
Is pre-owned Vitra worth buying?
Yes. Vitra is built to a high standard and its designs hold their value, so a well-kept original lasts and often appreciates rather than dates. Buying pre-owned also avoids new-price premiums and lead times. Every Vitra item at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and backed by the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial.
How much is Vitra, new versus pre-owned?
New, Vitra is priced as a premium brand: an Eames Lounge runs to several thousand pounds, and a Panton Chair to a few hundred. A pre-owned original at REHAUS, authenticated and restored, typically costs well under the new price and arrives in 1 to 5 days. The difference reflects buying the genuine original second time around, not a discount on a copy.
How is Vitra delivered, and can I return it?
Each piece is delivered in 1 to 5 days, with white-glove delivery complimentary on qualifying orders. Every order comes with a 30-day home trial, so you can live with it before committing. If it is not right, returns are straightforward. Because each piece is one of one, it is only truly yours once it has shipped.
Why buy Vitra from REHAUS?
REHAUS sells originals only, never copies or reproductions. Every Vitra piece is authenticated against the genuine design, restored to a high standard, and delivered fast across the UK. You get the real Eames, Panton or Nelson, in stock now, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial, from one company that stands behind the piece.
