Plia Folding Chairs Set of 12

Designed by Giancarlo Piretti in 1969 for Anonima Castelli in Bologna, the Plia chair folds completely flat thanks to its signature three-disc hinge — a piece of Italian engineering that won the Compasso d'Oro in 1971. This set of 12 is built for high-turnover use: cafes, wedding rentals, coworking spaces, lecture rooms, and large dining events.

About Giancarlo Piretti

Giancarlo Piretti (Italian, b. 1940) joined Anonima Castelli in 1960 and quickly became one of the most quietly influential industrial designers of postwar Italy. The Plia, released in 1969, was his breakthrough: a folding chair so visually slim it almost disappears, made possible by a three-disc hinge that lets all three structural members rotate around a single chrome pivot. Closed, the chair is only about 5 cm (2 in) thick — twelve of them stack flat against a wall.

The original Plia is held in the permanent collections of MoMA in New York and the V&A in London. More than fifty years on, it remains the reference point for every transparent folding chair that followed — and for event planners, cafe owners, and anyone needing serious seating capacity without a permanent footprint, still the answer.

Materials & Craftsmanship

This set of 12 stays true to the Piretti tradition:

• Seat and backrest: molded PET acrylic — available in translucent smoked amber, clear, smoked black, or opaque white.
• Frame: chrome-plated tubular steel, 21 × 11 mm, 1.8 mm wall — the slim profile that makes the folded depth possible.
• Hinge: the iconic three-disc pivot that lets the seat, back, and legs collapse into a single flat plane in one motion.

Each chair is inspected for hinge action, frame finish, and panel clarity before packing. Twelve chairs ship together in protective sleeves.

Specifications

Care & Assembly

No assembly required. Each chair arrives fully built and folded flat — unfold in seconds by pulling the seat down until the three-disc hinge locks into the open position. To collapse, lift the front seat edge and the chair returns to its 1.9" folded profile in a single motion.

For the acrylic panels, wipe with a soft microfiber cloth and mild soapy water. Avoid ammonia-based glass cleaners and abrasive sponges — they will haze the surface over time. The chrome frame wipes clean with a damp cloth. For storage, twelve folded chairs can be leaned against a wall, stacked on a flat trolley, or hung from a horizontal rail using the back hook recess.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage space do 12 folded chairs take?

Each chair folds to roughly 1.9" / 4.8 cm thick. Stacked or leaned together, 12 chairs occupy about 24" / 60 cm of wall depth — comparable to a coat closet. They store easily under a banquet table, in a service cupboard, or on a wheeled rack.

Can I mix colors within one set of 12?

Each set ships in a single color selected at checkout. To mix colors (for example, 6 clear and 6 smoked black for an event), please place separate orders or contact us before ordering — we can usually accommodate custom color splits at the same total quantity.

Are they sturdy enough for daily commercial use?

Yes. The chrome-plated tubular steel frame supports up to 250 lbs (113 kg) per chair, and the three-disc hinge is rated for repeated daily folding cycles. The Plia design has been in commercial production for over five decades precisely because the engineering holds up to cafe, restaurant, and event use.

Can I order more than 12?

Yes. Add multiple sets to your cart for larger events. For orders above 36 chairs, contact us for volume pricing and consolidated pallet shipping to venues, restaurants, and rental companies.

Do they stack flat against a wall?

Yes — that is the entire point of the design. Twelve folded chairs lean cleanly against a wall in a single row about 24" deep, with no protruding hardware. The chairs can also be hung on a horizontal storage rail or trolley-stacked for transport between venues.

Shipping & Returns

Free US shipping (12-unit orders typically arrive within 2–3 weeks). 30-day free returns. See our shipping policy and refund policy.