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Sectionals coming on strong in leather

Plush, relaxed looks, better leathers on tap

By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, October 12, 2003

Hitting a musical note

High Point — Plush, relaxed looks featuring down blends, better-quality leathers, and a renewed interest in sectionals are among the directions in leather upholstery being introduced at market this week.

ILS/Italian Leather Seating is featuring its new Loft collection, a series of loose-down sofa groups dressed in better leathers on oversized, low frames for truly deep seating.

Four different sofas are priced from $1,499 to $1,999 retail.

"It's 'uptown leather for real life'," said Dennis Kramer, vice president of sales and marketing for ILS.

Hitting a musical note

Interline Italia also is getting in on the deep-seating act with Bach and Mozart, a pair of 87-inch transitional frames with loose- down blend-filled cushioning.

Also from Italy, Natuzzi's upscale Pasquale Natuzzi Signature Collection introductions feature a two-over-two contemporary model with exaggerated pillowtop arms retailing at $3,199.

In the company's core program, introductions include a relaxed casual look featuring a saddlebag arm and a sleek frame adorned in heavyweight leather. The sofas retail at $2,299 and $2,399, respectively.

Natuzzi continues to tell its good-better-best story, with Italsofa at the promotional end and the Pasquale Natuzzi Signature Collection at the top.

"As we install galleries and get our strategy set, we are pushing for better leathers and better styling, while putting more into stitching and design," said Fred Starr, president of Natuzzi Americas. "We are working hard to design a better product."

Canadian player Palliser is showing its first bycast sofa this market — Dash, with contrast top stitching at $999 retail.

Nicoletti and Divania, meanwhile, are paying particular attention to better leathers.

Divania is introducing three leathers, including a full aniline that has proven successful with dealers in Europe, as well as a super-thick article and a heavily waxed leather, "all unique to the high end," said John Sellers, president of Divania's U.S. division.

"We have got to go that way," he said. "We have got to do something that separates us from the Chinese. They are not that good at tanning yet, so we have to take advantage where we can. We see the high end as the way for us to go, coupled with good design."

Divania also is offering full top grain this market, in lieu of the more typical 80/20 top grain and split approach.

From Asia, midpriced importer HomElegance is expanding its warehousing program with additions to the Art of Living line. Sofa retails range from $999 to $1,299, with three-piece promotional groups priced at $999.

HTL International is offering 12 sofa frames in 20 colors at retails of $699 each, as well as a better assortment of 20 frames that blend Euro style with American scale and comfort.

DeCoro is debuting more than 40 models across-the-board to address stationary, motion, sofa-sleeper and microfiber categories.

Sectionals can be seen in abundance at W. Schillig USA, Jaymar and Lane Leather.

Highlights from German producer W. Schillig focus on designs from Fillmore Harty:

Tango, at $3,999 retail, matches European scale with tufted seat cushions and off-the-floor styling, while San Tropez is built on legs of fluted aluminum for $3,499 retail.

At Canadian-based Jaymar, at its first High Point market since its acquisition by Shermag, the emphasis is on functionality. Rondo is a curved three-piece sectional with rotating ottoman, while Manhattan is a two-piece squared sectional with hidden cup pop-outs. The plush Bentley sectional is characterized by a high "contemporized" pub back.

Lane is presenting the all-leather Maverick in either a sectional ($1,999 to $2,999) or sofa ($999) configuration, adding interest with stitching accents.

At the higher end, Leathercraft is unveiling two modular sectionals, including a crisp transitional frame ($5,995) and a full plinth base design ($6,995).

At American Leather, designer Rick Lee spans the globe with Great Wall, a modular sectional, and Orly, inspired by seating at Orly Airport in Paris, enhanced with built-in modular shelving.

California-based Omnia is rolling out a contemporary leather chair program with six designs. Special-order requests spurred creation of the program, said Peter Zolferino, chief operating officer.

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