Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Papasan Chairs
Sep 11, 2019
Discover the quirky origins of papasan chairs, tracing their roots back to the Philippines in the 1960s and their rise in American homes. The hosts share hilarious anecdotes about the chair's cultural significance, including connections to veterans returning from Vietnam. They also dive into the nostalgic designs and trends surrounding these iconic seating options, peppered with humorous reflections on furniture fashion through the years. Get ready to appreciate the papasan like never before!
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Papasan Mystery
- The origin of the papasan chair, its name, and its introduction to the US market remain largely unknown.
- Pier 1 Imports, a major seller, has conflicting information about when they began selling them.
Papasan Chair Origins
- American GIs in Vietnam frequented brothels where papasan chairs were common.
- They jokingly called them "pimp chairs," possibly leading to the name "papasan," which means "pimp" in GI slang.
US Papasan Popularization
- Returning GIs likely popularized papasan chairs in the US, having seen them in Southeast Asia.
- They bought them from Pier 1 Imports, or others saw them in military homes, further spreading the trend.