NATUZZI ASSURANCE

ABOUT LEATHER

• About Leather

  About Leather
  
  Comfort
  
  Since it is a natural substance, leather breathes. It is warm in winter and cool in summer. Good quality leather contains from 10 to 15 percent of its weight in water. It absorbs and evacuates moisture that never stays on its surface.
  Some people incorrectly think that leather sweats. Actually leather is a lot like our skin - it maintains the temperature of the room and is porous. The scientific term is transpiration, and this is an attribute of leather’s 3-dimensional fiber structure. The countless fibers in each square inch of leather conduct and dissipate heat and moisture. Air moves through leather freely, while vinyl and synthetic backed fabrics can trap air. Leather adapts within several seconds to body temperature and therefore becomes instantly comfortable. For that reason, leather is always associated with comfort, whether in footwear, gloves, garments or upholstery.
  
  Durability
  
  Leather is an enduring material. You can expect many years of enjoyment from their leather sofa. Properly prepared, leather resists the typical causes of decay and deterioration - bacteria, temperature change and humidity. Drying and sunrot are the two big enemies of leather. These are easily controlled, and by adding proper protection, leather should last forever.
  
  Tear Resistance
  
  This is derived from the 3-dimensional fiber weave structure of leather. Leather is one of the strongest upholstery materials known to man.
  
  Flame Resistant
  
  Leather is naturally flame resistant; it will not readily burn or melt. Most leather even meets the high standards the FAA sets for airline seating.
  
  Conformability
  
  Leather molds to a form, but will not stretch out of shape. Like a favorite pair of jeans, it conforms to the body shape and becomes more comfortable with each use. Only leather ages so gracefully, becoming more supple and beautiful throughout its years of use.

• Leather Types

  Leather Types
  
  Pigmented
  
  least likely to fade or stain
  sanded surface and a faux embossed pattern create a highly uniform and consistent texture
  coated with a clear sealant to enhance stain resistance
  opaque dyes create rich and uniform coloration that minimize natural marks and scars
  excellent durability with minimal maintenance
  
  Aniline
  
  the finest leather available, always made from premium-quality, full-top grain hides (the surface of a fullgrain hide has not been mechanically altered)
  the softest, most luxurious and natural looking leather
  more likely to fade and stain; will feature noticeable range marks, barbed wire scars, wrinkles, scratches, and brands
  un-retouched, resulting in subtle color and shading differences from hide to hide - and even within a hide
  generally more expensive than other types of leather
  
  Nubuck
  
  high quality, full top-grain leather buffed or sanded to a velvety, suede-like nap
  more likely to fade and stain; will feature noticeable range marks, barbed wire scars, wrinkles, scratches, and brands
  soft and beautiful; more durable than a true suede that is produced from lower quality split-grain leather
  un-retouched, resulting in subtle color and shading differences from hide to hide - and even within a hide
  generally more expensive than other types of leather

• Leather Characteristics

  Leather Characteristics
  
  Natural Variation & Shading
  
  Premium aniline-dyed leather displays subtle variations of color across the surface of the hide. When the hide is cut and sewn together, care is taken to attempt to match adjacent pieces, but subtle color differences may occur. These are not signs of poor quality; in fact, they highlight the unique and natural quality of premium leather, left unmasked by opaque dyes and varnish.
  
  Natural Texture
  
  Premium leather hides used for upholstering furniture exhibit slightly non-uniform surface qualities, depending on the area of the hide from which they were cut. Pigmented-dyed leathers are buffed and embossed to obscure these natural texture characteristics. Variations in texture are not flaws and will not affect leather durability.
  
  Common Surface Variations
  
  Scratches - Smooth to the touch, these rub marks may accept dye with slight variation to the surrounding area.
  Wrinkles - Natural folds highlight unique grain patterns.
  Healed Scars - Barbed-wire scratches and deeper rubs create organic surface texture and one-of-a-kind authentic leather character. These marks do not affect the durability of the hide.