Industry veterans launch seating source Artistic Leathers

Will introduce first product at High Point Market

Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, October 17, 2011

HIGH POINT — Two veterans of the leather upholstery business have launched a company that is offering North American-made leather sofas, recliners and home theater seating.

The new company, Artistic Leathers, is headed by Mark Parris and Gary Margossian, and will feature sofa retail price points of $1,999 to more than $3,000. Special orders also are available with shipping in four to six weeks.

"Dealers are hungry for quality products made in North America with a solid special order program," said Parris. "We give them that, and much more."

The company is making its High Point Market debut in a temporary space in the Best Western hotel downtown. The market officially opens this Saturday, Oct. 22.

Parris said the company uses rich, hand-antiqued leather covers on most of its frames, and offers five grades of leather in more than 20 colors. The products are made at a factory in Tijuana, Mexico, and the company has warehouses in California and North Carolina.

Margossian was a longtime executive at LeatherTrend, which ceased operations earlier this year, and Parris most recently was with Parker House, where he helped launch the company's Parker Living line of leather upholstery.

Parris also has held posts at Leather Italia and Coja Leather.