I have truly enjoyed the quality of this sectional sofa. It seems to be getting softer everyday. Very good quality leather with soft down/feather cushions. Fits 7-8 people very easily. Good price for the quality of product. Look forward to getting a matching 44″ cocktail matching ottoman. Thanks and best wishes. Michael Franklin, TN Link to the one I bought: https://www.leathergroups.com/shop/Langston-Leather-L-Sectional-Sofa.html Pictures:
Tag Archives: leather furniture information
What is the advantage to purchasing leather furniture?
Leather is a beautiful material, but its wide popularity in furniture was not built on appearance alone. Leather is specially tanned, colored and treated to withstand even the most active households.
Leather has several properties which make it superior to other upholstery materials. It will not tear or easily rip, even along seam lines, unlike many fabrics used on upholstered sofas. When leather is dyed, it absorbs colors, which won’t fade, or rub off. Leather is fire resistant, and won’t emit toxic fumes, even when exposed to intense heat. Also, modern leather will not crack, or peel; instead it stretches and retains its shape without sagging.
There’s nothing quite like the rich smell and feel of leather. Leather will breathe and assume body temperature rapidly making it comfortable quickly. Leather also ages well, is simple to maintain and doesn’t require any special solvents.
It’s healthier! Fabric can attract allergens and dust mites, but leather does not. Leather is recommended by many experts, including Prevention Magazine® as a healthier alternative for your home.
Leather is a natural product, so each hide’s grain is unique, much like a human fingerprint. Natural markings such as wrinkles, scars and grain variations add character and style to leather furniture, and are indications of its natural origin.
What type of leather is best?
One of the most confusing things when looking for new leather furniture can be all the terminology involved. Here is a breakdown of some of the most pertinent terms used to describe leather.
Full aniline leather gets its name from the type of dyes that are used to produce the leather’s color. Leather hides are soaked and tumbled in large stainless steel drums containing the translucent dye. This dye is absorbed by the pores of the leather and permeates without covering natural markings, or grain variations. Leather hides dyed this way will have variations in the intensity of color because of the simple fact that some hides, or even portions of the same hide, will absorb more dye than others. Surface finish is not applied, and because of this, full aniline leathers are more absorbent, and will age differently than others. Over time, the leather will develop a rich patina finish, giving your leather furniture a natural character and beauty.
Semi-aniline leather is dyed the same way as full aniline leather, but then enters an additional step. The surface of the leather is micro-pigmented to achieve more uniform coloration and create color consistency from hide to hide. Next, a protective topcoat is also applied to provide additional resistance to soiling and fading. There are a wide variety of colors available in semi-aniline leathers and they exhibit much of the softness associated with full aniline leathers.
Corrected Semi-aniline leather are leathers in which naturally occurring imperfections are buffed, or lightly sanded before embossing the surface to achieve a more uniform grain. The dyeing process is the same as semi-aniline leather, however some softness in the leather is sacrificed as a result of the buffing process. These leathers are easy to maintain and have great fade, soil and wear resistance.
Why Should I Buy Leather Furniture Online?
The selection at LeatherGroups.com is the biggest advantage to buying your leather furniture online. We’re able to offer more styles than a local showroom and have teamed up with some of the best manufacturers in the business to bring you high quality leather furniture at great prices. All of our leather furniture is delivered by white glove delivery providers that specialize in furniture delivery. Items are picked up factory-direct and pre-inspected by the carriers before being released for delivery to ensure your product arrives in good order. All of our product pages feature detailed descriptions, images, and dimensions. On most styles, you can request a swatch to see just how the leather will look and feel. Our trained representatives are knowledgeable about our leather furniture and can assist you in making the best, informed decision.
Convenience is king with buying leather furniture online. Unlike traditional furniture stores with limited business hours, you can access information at LeatherGroups.com anytime, from anywhere.
Leather Glossary
At LeatherGroups, we believe that buying leather furniture should be a fun, stress-free experience. With that in mind, we’ve put together a glossary of leather terms in order to make the process more enjoyable and help you to make the best, informed decision.
The preferred method for adding color to leather using non-toxic aniline dyes. This translucent dye does not conceal markings that are part of the natural beauty of leather.
The process by which leather is made to appear aged. Usually done by hand, using techniques such as lubrication and sanding as well as hand staining with aniline dyes.
After deliming the leather, enzymes are used to add softness and flexibility to the hides.
Full grain leather will breathe and adjust to temperature.
Process for correcting leather and eliminating natural imperfections in the grain. Often times light sanding is performed, after which a more consistent grain is embossed on the leather. Buffing is also used to remove the grain to create nubuck or suede.
A tanning process chromium sulfate and other salts of chromium, producing a more supple leather than vegetable tanning.
Leather tanned with multiple tanning agents, usually a combination of chrome and vegetable tanning, combining the benefits of both.
Leather in which the surface has been sanded, or buffed to remove imperfections, then micro-pigmented and embossed with a more uniform grain texture.
Leather that has been treated to age the appearance.
Heavy gauge coils which are individually tied to one another from front to back, side to side and diagonally (eight ways) to provide a high level of quality, comfort and durability. An expensive process that can only be done by hand.
The process of applying an artificial uniform grain to the surface of leather after imperfections have been lightly sanded, or buffed out.
Application of any number of effects to leather after tanning, such as aniline dyeing, buffing, embossing, antiquing, distressing, etc.
Leather which gains all of its color from being tumbled and soaked in large stainless drums with translucent aniline dyes.
Considered the best, this is leather which has been aniline dyed, but has not been mechanically altered. Natural characteristics and markings such as scars, barbed wire marks, and wrinkles are left intact and are considered to be what adds character and beauty to premium leather.
Term used to describe the patterned texture, either natural or embossed, on the surface of leather.
Used to describe the feel of softness or fullness of upholstery leather.
The application by hand of a darker color over a lighter color in order to create a unique aged effect.
A lower cost alternative to 100% leather, leather match combines top-grain leather seating with skillfully matched vinyl on the sides and back of the furniture.
The process of softening the hand, or feel, of the leather by tumbling it in a rotating drum.
Naturally occurring marks on most hides such as wrinkles, scars, scratches, and insect bites. These markings are part of the natural beauty of leather and indicate its natural origin.
Leather in which the grain has been removed by buffing or sanding, which creates a nap, similar to suede. Because the grain is removed, Nubuck is unprotected and more susceptible to staining than other leathers.
Over time, and with use, full aniline leather will absorb moisture and oils forming a rich patina finish, much like a well worn bomber jacket.
A type of dye that is rolled, or sprayed onto the finish of leather to provide more uniform color and protection from fading.
Aniline dyed leather which has has had the surface micro-pigmented and sealed with a transparent synthetic protective coating.
Leather that exhibits bursts of lighter color when stretched, or scratched, as a result of the waxes, or oils in the leather.
Leather which receives all of its coloration from tumbling and soaking in drums with aniline dyes with no surface pigmentation performed.
An effect achieved by any of several techniques, after which the leather exhibits a two-tone or marbled effect that creates depth to the color of leather.
A sturdy suspension formed from heavy gauge “S-shaped” wires that run front to back, tightly spaced to one another, and secured to the frame.
The bottom layer of a hide after the top grain has been removed. It is also used to create suede.
A process which converts the protein of the raw hide or skin into a stable, non-perishable material. Without tanning, leather would dry into a hard inflexible material.
Application of synthetic, transparent resin as a protective coating. Can be either a high gloss, or matte finish.
Leather hides are split into two layers, with the strongest, most supple part of the hide being the top layer, called “Top Grain”.
A method of tanning that uses tannins from vegetable matter, such as bark, instead of chromium salts or other compounds.
Tannins that are extracted from the wood, bark, and leaves of trees and are used during the Vegetable Tanning process.
The thickness of leather, typically given in millimeters.