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February, 2006

Richard Stevens, owner of Auckland based chair maker, Mainly Chairs has got his knickers in a twist over the issue of what is and what is not deserving of the description "leather". He has even posted a page on his website (www.mainlychairs.co.nz) giving advice and explaining in layman’s terms some basic technical information. His first advice to anyone considering purchasing leather furniture is to have a look at this.

After over 30 years in the furniture industry Richard likes to think he knows a scam when he sees one, even when the visual evidence is so hard to detect as it is in identifying what is fake leather and what is the real thing. In June 2003, he had a number of products scientifically tested and with conclusive evidence in his hand, went to TV One’s Holmes programme, which gave the issue nationwide publicity.

But the problem has not gone away. "In fact, if anything, it has got even worse" he says. "We are still seeing a plethora of very cheap ‘leather’ furniture being sold by the very biggest furniture distributors in the country, as well as many smaller ones. But what the buying public are not being told is the real truth of exactly what they are buying."

"The biggest deception is the country of origin. Either by inference, or straight out lies, the fact that almost all of the cheap end furniture is made in the Far East is being withheld or obscured either by the use of Italian names (eg. Casa Roma, one of the more publicised ranges in N.Z.), or identifying the source as New Zealand or Italian named furniture manufacturers."

"Even if it is Italian, as one of the fake leather chairs shown on Holmes was, this is no guarantee of quality. The Italian furniture industry is under enormous pressure (from China in particular) to retain its leading role as the world’s largest furniture exporter and such pressure is likely to lead to quality shortcuts to retain price competitiveness. And it is widely known that Italsofa is the lower end range of Natuzzi which is manufactured, at least in part, in China."

"Of more significance," Richard believes, "is the use of what is described within the tanning industry as ‘splits’. Expert opinion has suggested that the lifespan of this type of ‘leather’ is unlikely to exceed even two years and should not be seen outside of its traditional usage in handbag and cheap garment making."

To illustrate the material value of ‘split’ leather, Richard sought out a supplier, which happened to be a large Italian tannery. The price offered to him was the equivalent of less than $12 per linear metre of fabric. As anyone who has been looking at furnishing fabrics knows, you can get very little indeed for that money. And this price was for the minimum quantity of a single hide. "Imagine the price had I been ordering a container full," he says.

Richard explains a ‘split’…"it is made by the removal of the top layer of the hide (the skin or "grain" – approx. 1.2mm thick) which leaves a fibrous, flesh residue which is then split through two or three times more into perhaps 0.5mm thicknesses after which it is coated with bonding adhesives, coloured polymers such as vinyl or polyurethane and then imprinted with an embossed leather pattern".

Technically, under the present guidelines from the International Council of Tanners and accepted by the latest British Standard amendment in 1983, (the foundation of much worldwide consumer legislation) the use of the term ’leather’ in describing ‘splits’ is, with the exception of France, internationally accepted. (Provided that the synthetic top layer is no more than .15mm thick.) The French have taken the lead of legislating that leather can only be so-called if it is the top grain of the hide with the hair removed. Richard strongly believes, and is supported by many within the furniture and leather industries, that New Zealand should follow this lead. This opinion has been passed onto government through the Commerce Commission who are taking an interest in the whole issue.

The Commerce Commission have since also come out with a clear stand on the issue. Notwithstanding the British Standard and ICT ruling, if the material is not 100% leather, then it can not be called ' leather' and neither can reconstituted leather nor can the term 'bi-cast leather' be applied although, worldwide, this terminology is very widespread. 

"A more honest description would be ‘Polyurethane coated suede’ although even this is being kind as genuine suede is the top grain of the hide with the surface buffed. And it is quite possible, as the tests proved, there may be no leather/suede content whatsoever behind the glossy synthetic exterior.".

for more information contact Richard Stevens, info@mainlychairs.co.nz or ring  027 6636432

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