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New leather sources making market debuts

By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, April 12, 2005

At the Market — The leather seating category this market welcomes newcomers, new neighbors and new concepts, ranging from formal debuts to domestic expansions.

At the high-end, Classic Chesterfield USA, the U.S.-owned marketing unit of Classic Chesterfield Mfg. Ltd., one of Australia's largest leather upholstery manufacturers, is debuting.

Classic Chesterfield USA, showing at 330 N. Hamilton St., space 304, offers "an extensive collection of traditional chesterfield seating" from Australia retail priced from $3,500 to $7,000, said U.S. Sales Manager Alan Barrows.

The line includes 16 stationary sofas, loveseats, wingbacks, ottomans, sectionals, chaises and executive office chairs. The collection is dressed in antiqued top-grain hides from New Zealand. A High Point warehouse is set to open later this year, Barrows said.

Another upscale player, Bizzarri, a custom leather seating producer in Forli, Italy, makes its official U.S. debut in Showplace space 3618 with a 20-frame assortment. The highly tailored contemporary collection comprises hand-cut full aniline hides from Europe.

Also targeting the high-end, Sharut Furniture is entering the leather upholstery arena. The company, a manufacturer of contemporary entertainment centers, bedroom sets, home office and curios, shows at 305 S. Hamilton St.

Sharut is showing eight stationary and four motion frames in transitional and contemporary-modern motifs, to retail from $875 to $3,600.

"We have had home theater seating in our line for the last seven years with good response and have decided to expand around that," said M. Andrew Lee, newly appointed director of marketing.

Italian furniture importer Michelangelo Designs, at 118 W. Commerce Ave., has partnered with Shanghai-based Cirasola Furniture Ltd. to offer Chinese-made, Italian-designed better leather seating.

The competitively priced contemporary collection uses Italian hides only and targets mid- to high retail pricing, said Fred Farra, owner and president of Michelangelo Designs. More than 20 stationary, motion, sectionals, sofa-sleepers and three-piece groups will launch under the Cirasola brand.

Shadow Mountain, in Market Square, space 251, a three-year-old Conover, N.C.-based importer of bedroom, casual dining, occasional and lighting, has added a chair program this market. A rocker and a stationary frame, both made of birch with leather-trimmed seats, are offered to retail at $799.

President/CEO Chad Turney said Shadow Mountain is "a rustic-casual-lodge one-step shop." The company also is adding a direct container program from Asia this market, in conjunction with its Statesville, N.C.-based distribution center.

Meanwhile, some leather showrooms have shifted at Hamilton Square because of Zocalo's expansion across the entire third floor. Neighbor Omnia Leather has moved to HS-128, while Coja Leather is in a newly expanded space on the ground floor.

Trindi Furniture, the residential upholstery division of DeNovo Leathers, an Asian import program, has moved to 101 S. Main, Plaza Level, Suite B.

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