It’s all Apple’s fault. Ever since the tech company launched the MacBook Air in 2008, the word “air” has become shorthand for a lighter, cheaper, and more stripped-back version of a product: DJI’s Mavic Air drone, Soundcore Liberty Air earbuds, Nike Air shoes... Maybe not Nike.
Branch is the latest to go light and airy with the Aire. As well as adding an E to the end, maybe to avoid lawsuits, the word pulls double-duty here: the Aire is lighter and has fewer features than the furniture company’s vaunted Ergonomic Chair Pro, and the lack of lumbar support means that it won't be making our list of the best office chairs for back pain. However, in switching to a mesh-focused construction, air can circulate freely, and the whole unit looks and feels lighter.
