Supreme x Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli)
The original behind the Supreme x Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) is the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) — $10 retail vs Supreme's $38.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The Heller Max Mug is a 16 oz stackable drinking mug designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli in 1964 as part of the Max 1 tabletop system, which won Italy's Compasso d'Oro award and entered the permanent collections of the MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Originally produced by Milan's Articoli Plastici Elettrici, the molds were rescued by New York manufacturer Alan Heller after the Italian firm closed, and Heller has manufactured the mug in shatterproof, dishwasher-safe polystyrene in continuous production ever since. Supreme's SS20 version was sold as a two-mug set printed with box logo graphics in Hellerware rainbow colorways and retailed at $38 against $10 for a standard single mug.
About Heller
Heller is an American furniture and housewares company founded in 1971 by Alan Heller in New York. The first product was a stacking melamine dinnerware set designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli, originally released in Italy in 1964 and awarded the Compasso d'Oro that year before its Italian manufacturer went bankrupt. Alan Heller flew to Italy, bought the original molds, and put the line back into production. Six months after relaunch, Hellerware entered the Museum of Modern Art permanent design collection. The company later commissioned work from Frank Gehry, Mario Bellini, and other architects, and is now headquartered in Westport, Connecticut. Supreme collaborated with Heller on a Vignelli-designed plate set.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $38 |
|---|---|
| Heller retail | $10 |
| Hype tax | +280% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) just the regular Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli)?
The Supreme x Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli), released in Spring/Summer 2020, is based on the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli). Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $38 for the Supreme x Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli); the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) retails for $10. That's a 280% markup — buying the original saves you $28, or 74% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli)?
You can buy the Heller Max Mug (Massimo Vignelli) from Haworth. Retail price is $10. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
