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Three leather types. Three characteristics.
ANILINE LEATHER. More beautiful
with age
Aniline Leather is dyed through and
given only a light surface protection. This allows
the leather to breathe, and leaves it extremely
comfortable and soft. Aniline leather ages very
gracefully. A frequently used sofa in aniline leather
acquires its own patina over the years. As with
all delicate materials, this natural surface is
sensitive and needs careful maintenance.
Our manufacturing of aniline leather
requires highly specialized knowledge of tanning,
dyeing, sorting and processing. The same level of
expertise is required of the furniture manufacturer,
who has to select the right leather for each individual
furniture model and the right part of the hide for
each part of the furniture.
SEMI-ANILINE LEATHER. Soft and
supple.
The majority of our hides are made
into semi-aniline leather. After being dyed-through,
they are given a light pigmented coating that makes
the leather more durable and easier to care for.
Our careful dyeing and surface finishing methods
ensure that the leather maintains a natural, comfortable
touch while making it more resistant to wear and
tear, whether it is destined for public or private
use. It is easy to clean, and does not age as visibly
as aniline leather.
TECHNICAL LEATHER. Leather for
extreme environments.
Technical leather
undergoes the same processes as aniline and semi-aniline
leather, but is given additional pigmented finishing
and other treatments to meet the standards of the
automotive and aviation industries. As a result,
technical leather lacks some structure of the natural
hide. It is extremely tough, durable and easy to
clean and maintain.
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Through-dyeing
and light surface treatment.
Through-dyeing
and light pigmented finish.
Through-dyeing,
pigmented finish and additional surface treatment.
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The wet part of the tanning process
We use the world's finest raw material;
bovine hides from Scandinavia. The hides weigh over
25 kg each, and are salted before delivery to protect
them from damage during transit and storage.
Tanning is the process used to preserve
the hides. Prior to tanning, the hides are prepared
through processes known as soaking, liming and fleshing.
The tanning process takes approximately
48 hours.
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Once tanned, the hides are
graded into various categories. This process
is known as wet blue sorting. All hides
are light blue or cream colored at this
stage.
Experienced graders perform
a visual inspection of hides. This vital
initial grading process determines which
hides are allocated to become aniline, semi-aniline,
or technical leather. Only 100% flawless
hides are approved for aniline leather,
because of the characteristic nakedness
of this leather.
The two graders use a special
sign language to show their chosen grade
for each individual hide, and the lowest
grade "wins". This reduces the risks of
overrating the hides
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After being sorted, trimmed
and inspected, the hides pass to the next
stage.
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The dry part of the tanning process
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The hides are stretched and dried in various
ways, depending on the end product.
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After tanning, base dyeing,
and drying, the hides undergo a second grading
process to determine which should be made
into aniline, semi-aniline and technical
leather.
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