New at market: Leather

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 23, 2003

• All prices retail • In-depth stories on case goods introductions will appear in Furniture/Today's opening-day issue •

• Asian Invasion: New players in the Far East imports arena include Italy's Incanto Divani, Pacifica Leather/Prime Resources International, Canadian-based Rodi and former case goods-only importer Drakeford.

• Collage education: Both Laurent Leather and Mayo are mixing leather and fabric with good results.

• Warehouse wonders: Homelegance, Leather Italia and Niroflex/Giovanni Leather are among those beefing up in-stock programs with new or additional facilities.

American Leather 312 S. Hamilton St.

• At its new temporary showroom location, American Leather unveils a range of sofas, chairs and ottomans, including the Martini and the LAX, two chaise loungers designed by Rick Lee.

• Three upholstered accent chairs, the Gabriel, the Vincent and the Kurt, as well as the Buck ottoman.

• Magnolia is the latest addition to home theater seating.

• Traditional, transitional, contemporary and European style themes also gain new leather designs.

• Leather selection expands in the middle and top-grade categories. The new leather lines include Ambassador, F grade leathers; Carerra, E grade; and Sunset, C grade. The three lines, rendered in from four to nine colors each, broaden current leather grades and color offerings.

Broyhill IHFC C-600

• Five leather groups from $999 to $1,199.

• An over-scaled three-piece wedged sectional, $2,099.

Century MS 500

• Additions to the Oscar de la Renta Collection, unveiled last fall, based on de la Renta's own designs and adaptations from his personal collections, drawing inspiration from de la Renta's homes: a posh Park Avenue residence in New York, a country estate in Kent, Conn., and an oceanside retreat in Punta Cana. The city, country and island themes will be replicated in the showroom.

• An exposed-wood version of a collage sofa, combining fabric and leather, with sloped arm and curved front and back rail.

Club 8220 Elm 310

• The Evo chair, in top-grain leather, heavily influenced by frames of the 1930s and 1940s, available in six leathers, 42 fabrics, $1,500 in leather, $975 in fabric.

• Quick-ship efforts expand with Studio program.

Coaster CoasterWrennCom 101

Imported Asian leather seating program adds new models.

Coja Leatherline HS 200

• Sofa introductions include Ravina, with shaped padded arm, pillow back and chow leg, and Bernini, a contemporary frame sporting mitered corner and arm detail, pinch corner back pillows, loose seats and block legs, each $1,499.

• The Colibri chair offers shaped spring back with outline welt, apostrophe arm welt outline, post legs, deep seating, $499.

• A 21-day delivery program encompasses top-selling frames and covers for special orders.

Décor-Rest 208 Jacobs Place

Adding to its existing line of all-leather upholstery with a transitional/contemporary sofa, $1,499, and loveseat, $1,399, featuring raised back railing and softly curved shapes, in a high-sheen, toasted-pecan cover.

DeCoro IHFC H-1147

A total of 45 models, including expanded offerings in stationary/motion sectionals, fabric and upscale DeNovo product, starting at $599.

Divania IHFC C-357

Newly designed sectional presentation.

Drakeford Furniture 101 S. Main St. (next to Noble's Restaurant)

• High-quality, midpriced, Italian-made leather program offers four frames, including urban-styled Metro sofa, $1,599; Baja, a West Coast contemporary; Bistro, a retro contemporary; and Beauregard, an English country traditional. Augments existing contemporary case goods line.

Elite Leather PCH Center, 135 S. Hamilton St.

• Diverse product line addresses traditional, transitional and contemporary lifestyle categories.

• Motion line, unveiled in October, expands with additional recliners.

• 96-color Ultrasuede program, launched last fall, adds new frames. Ultrasuede upholstery frames, produced in California, will ship in two to four weeks from order date.

• Wide range of colors and textures, from rich, dark hues to cool muted tones to brights. Special-effect leathers are highlighted.

Flexsteel IHFC C-558

• The apartment-scaled, casually styled Corona sofa, with shaped back, squared-off arm design, nailhead trim and button detailing, Arpel cover, $1,599. Matching Corona chair is paired with a hinged storage ottoman.

• Two cut-and-sew and two special-order programs bolstered by a selection of new leathers.

Four Hands Union Square E-201, P-202

The Havana Collection expands with the Brilliant two-seater and club chair; detailed stitching on Italian leather makes a classic statement, with hardwood frame and sinuous spring support, made in Hungary, multi colors.

Giovanni Leather MOG 303

• Warehouse program from Brazilian-based producer Niroflex offers eight frames with married leather available for same-day shipping; all frames are warehoused in High Point in two colors.

• A three-piece group for $995, and a traditional for $595.

Homelegance 212 Jacobs Place

Midpriced leather importer adds Art of Living line to warehousing program. Made in China, the line emphasizes traditional looks, nailhead trim, pub styles, full grains and pocket-coil seats, sofas $999 to $1,299, three-piece promotional sets, $999. Can be shipped container-direct or from warehouses coast-to-coast.

Htl International PS 405

Offering 20 new frames, 95 inches, retro styling, grand scaling.

Incanto Divani PS 131

Italian manufacturer makes U.S. debut with midpriced Incanto brand, bracketed by its promotional Sofitalia brand and its high-end Giovanni Sforza Collection.

Ils/Italian Leather Seating 220 Elm 200

An emphasis on better leathers, as well as an expanded chair program.

Jaymar IHFC H-712

• Additional SKUs include sectional configurations, as well as new transitional, contemporary and expanded T-Max Home Theater options.

• Styles include Coco, a Northern European-inspired, clean-lined, apartment-scaled contemporary sofa on high legs, $1,595.

• Lido offers timeless high steel leg design with clean lines, deep seating, $1,595.

• Phoenix is a family room cocooning concept with angled loveseats and angled ottomans, $3,495.

Kathy Ireland Home By Standard IHFC M-732

Highlighting TLC, the Total Leather Collection, featuring 15 frames, from contemporary to wood trimmed, in corrected grain, semi-aniline, waxed and antiqued leathers at $699 to $1,499. Complements Ireland's other licensed home lines.

Lane Leather IHFC C-800

• Beefing up the licensed Eddie Bauer collection with better leathers and lower price points. Five new sofas from $1,199 $1,599, including classic track arm, pub back and transitional design themes, address the comfortable/casual lifestyle theme.

• Each new group will have a matching recliner.

• On the transitional front, Cascade dots nails along its serpentine front, $1,599, while Eaton is offset by track arm styling, $1,399.

• Traditional looks include Benjamin, featuring doll-head arm styling with nailhead trim, and Lincoln Park, a traditional roll-arm mainstay, each $1,499.

Laurent Leather HS 127

• Emphasizing collages, pull-up leathers, hand-antiqued leathers and exotic combinations on transitional frames.

• Four-piece leather groupings — sofa, loveseat, chair, ottoman — include scalloped fronts, retro-styled frame with round ottoman, shapely front trimmed with antique brass nails, and a collage combining exotic leathers and mohair, sofas $1,500 to $3,750.

Leathercraft 117 N. Hamilton St.

• Additions include a transitional sofa with English arm styling, augmented by a tight envelope back, $2,999, and a hand-tufted chair and ottoman group, $2,499. Both eight-way hand-tied construction.

• A series of ottomans in various shapes, including a transitional tight-top rectangular cocktail on canted legs, $1,499; a round ottoman in a slipcover tight-top skirt, $1,099; and a round ottoman enhanced with bullion fringe at the base, $1,199.

Leather Italia USA 305 S. Hamilton St.

• Adding seven frames in transitional, traditional and contemporary styles to quick-ship warehouse program with 10-day delivery.

• Santeramo Collection features finished frames imported from Italy, starting at $799.

Leatherline FP 512

An open-base chrome modern silhouette with a cocktail ottoman on casters with removable acrylic tray, sofa $899.

Leathertrend PS 3

Launching the EasyTrend motion program and the Artisano Collection, featuring 15 frames dressed in hand-rubbed vintage-style leathers.

Legacy Leather International 224 E. Kivett Drive

The City Lights program offers quick delivery and popular pricing on a series of well-scaled, urban lifestyle designs aimed at all ages. Highlights include:

• Mitchel, a simply styled, 88-inch transitional loft look sofa, Moore & Giles cover, $1,899.

• Pompano, a scaled-back contemporary three-seat sofa in full aniline leather, Euro cover, $1,499.

• Charleston, a simple two-over-two sofa on a small scale as well as club chair/ottoman, all in a vintage-finish Euro cover, $1,299.

• Bolla, a contemporary sectional with chaise affords maximum comfort in minimum space, Elmo cover, $2,999.

Mayo 130 S. Main St.

• A casual three-over-three sofa with queen sleeper, $1,299.

• A popular style retooled as a leather/fabric collage, $1,499.

McKinley Leather 310 Hamilton Court 304-305

• New Hamilton/Wrenn showroom doubles its space.

• New corporate logo, "Crafted by Hands of America: Keep America Working," demonstrates family-run manufacturer's dedication to domestic production and timely delivery. All leather upholstery pieces are cut and sewn at McKinley's own Hickory, N.C.-area facility assuring continuity of dye lots for special orders as well as reorders.

• Additions include a clean, traditional chair and ottoman combination, with contrasting leather welts and nailhead accents, $1,500.

Michelangelo Designs 118 W. Commerce St.

• Daino, a horseshoe design with cushioned back pillows and front wood trim.

• Michelangelo, featuring throw pillows and contrasting leather piping.

• Hydra, an ultra-modern chair design in 100% top-grain leather.

Natale 400 English Road

• Targeting higher price points with its new Impressions program. Assorted designs and styles in all leather, top-grain hides from Italy start at about $999. Includes Metropolis, a classic contemporary sectional featuring loose back and seat cushions, $2,499; the Broadway sofa features angled flare arm design on chrome platform feet, $1,299; the Athens sofa is outfitted with crocodile outer hides, $1,199. Each frame has Pirelli webbing support system.

• In promotional, launching the 826 program, with eight best-selling sofas in two colors with six-week delivery to a U.S. port, from about $699 to $899. Each frame is available in its own distinct two-color family.

Natuzzi 130 W. Commerce St.

• Expanding the Pasquale Natuzzi Collection with several highly tailored models, including wood or metal legs, double-stitching, no splits. Most styles available in leather or Dreamfibre.

• The new Signature collection provides a high-end look with value.

• Additions at promotional brand Italsofa in either leather or Dreamfibre.

• New sofa-sleeper, available in Dreamfibre, takes up a foot less space when opened; attached pillows add to efficiency of opening-closing.

Niroflex MOG 303

• With factory expansion that triples capacity, Brazilian producer adding 12 frames offering value at attractive prices.

• Launching a container-direct quick-ship program featuring six frames with married leathers, guaranteed six-week delivery from order date, from $599 to $999.

Omnia HS 318

• "Bycast" leather at extremely competitive prices, as well as Broadway, modular theater seating in Culp microfiber for better durability, cleanability and colors, $995.

• New sofas include Geneva, a tight back retro lifestyle design, $1,595, with contoured ottoman, and Contessa, an exposed wood frame, $1,695.

• Richmond, a fully reclining sofa and chair, with high back, $1,895.

• Expanding 72-hour express shipping program.

PFC/Pioneer Radio Bldg., mezzanine

Girls Gone Wild, a retro contemporary four-piece group of sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman; armless seating with polished chrome accent legs, available in various special-order vinyl and fabric covers with an emphasis on solid brights, sofa $399.

Pacifica Leather/Prime Resources International 220 Elm 100

Official rollout of its own leather brand includes traditional, transitional and contemporary styling on frames imported from China, in eight-way hand-tied construction.

Racing Furniture MS 410

• Making market debut with licensed motorsports-themed furniture for racing fans. Licensed with NASCAR and the National Hot Rod Assn. and with distribution in the motorsports industry, the line is now being marketed to furniture dealers and designers.

• Seating, made in China, utilizes high-performance top-grain Fu Xing leather, hardwood frames, continuous sinuous wire suspension, embroidered graphics and channel-quilted perforated leather on inside back, reminiscent of racecar interiors, with tight seats. Sofas in all leather. $1,995, or leather in seating area only, $1,495; chairs, all leather, $995, leather seating only, $750.

• Line includes #3 Dale Earnhardt sofa featuring contrasting leather welting; Finish Line sofa with hand cut and sewn black-and-white checkers; #24 Jeff Gordon Flame sofa or chair has hand-cut and applied leather flames and embroidered outline; Kevin Harvick Blade Chair boasts gray blade, hand cut and applied with embroidered outline.

• In-stock items, two-week delivery direct to consumer's home, RTA. Non-stock merchandise, 10- to 12-week delivery.

Rodi CP 202

• Inaugural China import program features traditional frame with classic roll arms and large nailheads, targeting a higher-end market with affordable pricing.

• Transitional/casual collection with double stitching on sofa, loveseat, chair.

Sofa art by Giuseppe Nicoletti IHFC D-824

• A range of traditional, transitional, motion and sectional styles, from $999 to $1,999.

• Emphasizing three-piece packages — sofa, loveseat, chair — in leather at $1,999 or microfiber at $1,499.

W. Schillig USA 220 Elm 316

Designer Philmore Harty salutes his favorite eateries with the Restaurant Collection. Highlights include Nobles, a sectional combining clean cubistic forms with cantilevered off-the-floor design. While its roots lie in Euro trends, the frame is rendered in American proportions and back heights.

William Alan 404 N. Hamilton St.

Official rollout of the licensed Airstream Home Collection, influenced by the iconic streamlined silver recreational vehicle. The upholstery and case goods line is characterized by its novel use of classic styling details including rivets, lightweight aluminum, mahogany, cherry and leather.

Woodmark 200 N. Hamilton St.

• Nine sofa and 14 chair introductions.

• A series of four leather specials at starting price points, offering exposed wood frames and finishes with custom frame and design options; aggressive dating and discount incentives.