Leathers

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Leather is a wonderful product. No other upholstery covering can provide the style, durability, feel or aroma of genuine leather. The vast look of color and finishes make it suitable for all styles. It is a natural product that is comfortable in both summer and winter. It is dust free making it suitable for asthma and hay fever sufferers and is easy to maintain. But there are many types and qualities that you should be aware of when purchasing leather and we hope this guide helps you make the right choice.

Full grain Leather has a surface that has been left untouched and features all its grain variations, scars, brands and natural markings to enhance its natural beauty and individuality. About 15% of all hides are suitable for us as full grain upholstery leather.

Corrected Grain Leather has the strength of full grain leather but has a portion of its grain layer removed in order to increase its useable area and to camouflage some of the natural markings. Almost 85% of all hides undergo some form of correction.

Nubuck is leather created from the grain surface of the hide to give t a more textured style. The process results in the leather having a very soft feel and suede like appearance.

Split leather has been split from the middle and lower sections of a hide and has been corrected. Split leather has lower wearing properties and lower tears resistance. It is unsuitable for use in seating areas of furniture and should only be used in non- stress areas such as sides and backs of lounge chairs.

All upholstery leather has a finish applied to them for protection. This finish can be completely transparent or pigmented.

An aniline finish is ideal for a formal setting and showpiece. This is a clear finish that shows leather in its natural form and highlights its natural features. It offers limited protection and is not recommended for high use areas.

A Semi Aniline finish is a semi-transparent and tinted protection designed to enhance the already dyes color of the leather. It is more durable than Aniline leather and suitable for both formal and casual living environments with low to medium usage.

Pigmented Finish leather is a thoroughly protected by a colored finish, which has been applied to the surface. It offers highest level of protection and is suitable for use in all living areas and high usage.

Leather is a natural product that should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times.

Leather needs to be cleaned, dusted or vacuumed at regular intervals and liquid spills need to be wiped up immediately with a damp cloth.

Leather is porous and breathless naturally. thefore it is more susceptible to stains, dirt and grime, body secretions and liquids, even with frequent cleaning it will take on a lived in appearance with time.

These are not faults but inherent features of all leathers that cannot be avoided.

Clean and protect leather with approved product following the instructions on the package. The different types of leather require different types of treatment. Ensure your care products are suitable for the type leather chosen and always test these products on an unseen surface.

So when purchasing leather be aware that each piece will be individual and different. Be aware of its limitations and enjoy its qualities.

This standard details the terminology to be used to accurately inform the commercial specifies, furniture manufacturer and end user so as to make certain that the leather type they specify or purchase is the type that is represented by the leather wholesaler

Leather: A comprehensive Glossary of leather terms has been issued by the international council of Tanners (ICT) and defines leather as follows: ‘a general term for hide of skin with its original fibrous structure more or less intact tanned to be imputrescible. The hair or wool may or may not have been removed. Leather is also made from a hide or skin which has been split into layers or segmented either before or after tanning, but if the tanned hide or skin is disintegrated mechanically and or/chemically into fibrous particles small piece or powders and then with or without the combination of a binding agent, is made into sheets or other forms, such sheets or forms are not leather. If the leather has a surface coating this surface layer, however applied, must not be thicker than 0.15mm” ICT 1999.

The following description shall be used to describe the various types of leather. Where a CLA member’s leather conforms to the standards, it is mandatory to display the following description and or symbol in full at the point of sale i.e. sampling, information brocheures, websites etc. these definition have been included for the benefit of specifies, furniture manufacturers and end users to enable them to make an informed decision regarding the differences and qualities of the different leather types.

For the purpose of this Standard regular care means the application of commercially available leather care products, used in accordance with care label instructions.

As fire standards vary greatly specifies and end users must inform themselves via the fire department, building code of Australia (BCA) or relevant government authorities of the appropriate standards required for a particular project, location or end use situation.

Leather that has been drum dyed without pigment applied to surface. A light protective coating is sometimes added. It will exhibit all natural features such as scars, growth marks, far wrinkle etc. only the best raw hides are selected for this leather type. Requires regular care.

Drum dyed aniline leather where the surface grain has been buffed which may or may not have been treated with any protective coating. Requires regular care with nubuck specific care products.

Drum dyed leather with a top coat of oil and /or wax effects, designed to exhibit a “distressed look” Exhibits all the natural features such as scars, growth marks, far wrinkles etc. Requires regular care.

Drum dyed leather incorporating a small amount of pigment and protective finish however this finish does not conceal all the natural characteristics of the hide. Requires regular care.

Drum dyed thicker layer of pigment and protective finish applied. These finished will conceal natural markings such as scars, growth marks, fat wrinkle etc. Lower grade hides are selected for this type of leather. Requires regular care.

Drum dyed with the natural grain removed, a heavy layer of pigment and protective finish is applied. The leather is then embossed with an artificial patterned grain, which provides a uniform appearance, i.e. No natural markings such as scars, growth marks, fat wrinkle etc. Lower grade hides are selected for this type of leather. Requires regular care.

1.Splits and laminated splits are not recommended for use on furniture, as they are suited only for shoe inners, works boots, some belts etc.

2. By cast does not appear in the IGKT (1990) and the CLA warns against the use of this material.

To qualify CLA members to use the CLA leather type symbols each leather quality must have been tested at a certified laboratory to the appropriate CLA leather category test standards test methods.

The recently published European standard En 13336 and test method have been adopted by the CLA as the most appropriate standards and test methods.