It's bonded, leather-like ... and confusing?
By Joan Gunin -- Furniture Today, April 23, 2007
High Point — Leather upholstery producers introduced a variety of covers at the High Point Market, including fabric, leather/fabric combinations and what's called bonded leather — a new, somewhat controversial leather-like material.
In addition, higher-end manufacturers — including American Leather, Elite Leather and Palliser — bulked up their leather assortments with the addition of full-fledged fabric programs.
At the promotional end, companies like Klaussner and Catnapper added bonded leather, a layered mixture of polyurethane, cloth, glue and leather scraps or shavings that has 10% to 17% leather content.
Similar to bycast — polyurethane-coated leather splits — which was viewed with skepticism when introduced about five years ago, bonded leather is perceived by leather purists as a deception that will lead to market confusion.
Ashley was urging buyers to "be aware" of bonded leather.
"We just want people to be aware of exactly what they are buying," said Tom Leon, president of Ashley's Millennium division. "We are not taking a stand either way, but we do want dealers to know what it is and that it is not leather."
This market, some sources were selling upholstery with bonded leather covers, displaying the product along with other leather and leather-like looks.
The benefits of bonded leather, proponents say, in addition to the lower price, is that it is as flexible and supple as a leather cover and can be processed to carry a flat, grainy or two-tone patterned effect.
It also affords an almost waste-free yield of nearly 100%.
Klaussner is one of the companies that is building a merchandising program around bonded leather.
"It has the same polyurethane face as bycast but it is less costly than leather," said Chuck Welch, leather product manager for Klaussner. "We've created a separate category for it, as with bycast or microfiber."
With bonded leather sofas retailing from $699 — compared with $1,199 for similar real-leather sofas assembled domestically — Welch predicted the alternative material will compete with leather slots on retail floors.
The bonded leather covers were not relegated to mainstream merchandise only.
Simon Li/Trayton America also introduced a reconstituted product, creating a textural nubuck effect.
"It's bycast with a suede top, not a polyurethane top," said Peter Pilgaard, sales and marketing director. Simon Li calls the product "suede leather."
"It is like leather to work with because 65% of its thickness is leather," Pilgaard said. "It's a good way to control price points in the wake of leather hikes."
The less costly nubuck-like cover also was featured at Stylution, another China-based leather upholstery producer.
Ashley, DeCoro, Flexsteel, Luana Living, Natuzzi, Nicoletti and Universal are but a few of the companies that do not now carry bonded leather in their lines.
