Great Looks in Leather

Ah, leather. Sumptuous, sensuous and supple. You can smell it. You can feel it. And, over time, you can cherish the exquisite comfort that is a hallmark of a timeworn leather seat. There are three great stories happening in leather:

Van Gogh Boats Pillow

First, distressed leathers are one of the hottest looks in upholstery. Why? For one thing, the distressed finishes on wood furniture have paved the way for complementary looks in upholstery. And distressed leather is made from hides that have a variety of natural scarring and markings. These hides are less expensive and more readily available, making distressed leather upholstery a tremendous value.

“Once, the only real source for top quality, unmarked hides was Northern Europe, with its milder climate and domesticated care of cattle,” says one leather manufacturer. “American hides, then and now, primarily come from free-range cattle, which inevitably encounter their share of barbed wire, insect bites and close encounters with the elements. Now that distressed leathers are so desirable, it's easier to get hides and choose a wider assortment for use as upholstery.”

The second hot trend in leather continues to be color. Up until about 15 years ago, leather was tanned primarily for use in the automotive industry, with seating considered a secondary and very minor market. So brown, black, gray and burgundy were just about the only colors available. Now you can find leather in every conceivable color, from buttercup yellow and seafoam green to sage and taupe.

The third look in leather is just emerging as a major force in upholstery: engraved leathers. Hides are engraved under tremendous heat and pressure in an incredible array of patterns, from paisley and damasks to basketweaves and florals. It’s even possible to engrave a photograph into a hide, leading leather upholstery designers into all kinds of imaginative creations.

Mondrian Leather Sofa

“Once leather upholstery was bought solely by people between 40 and 60 who were in the upper income bracket. Now, Generation Xers are coming into the store. They are less concerned with price than with style and value. They’ll pay good money for the right piece, but they want to make sure they’re going to get their money’s worth. That’s quite a challenge for leather upholstery makers,” says the leather manufacturer.

Leather seating went from traditional looks to contemporary European designs. Now, leather seating runs the gamut of every style category and can be found in collections of nearly every major furniture manufacturer.