Leather Supplies

[Argus]

Being a woodworker I seldom stray into the art of upholstery, but I'm in the process of finishing a chair that needs a leather seat.

I'll probably need to obtain a complete hide, more than I need for a single seat, but can anyone recommend a supplier who will provide a small amount like this?

 

[paulm]

I make some leather knife sheaths and other bits and pieces from time to time and the following suppliers will be able to help you out I expect. Probably best to call them and explain what you are after as there are all sorts of different tanning treatments and qualities and thicknesses of hides as well as sizes of course, can be quite confusing !

http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk/default.asp

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/

http://www.tandyleather.eu/en-gbp/home/home.aspx

Cheers, Paul

 

[AndyT]

I was in a similar position recently, when I finally got round to repairing an old office chair that I had been meaning to do for years.
I wanted to recover the seat and back in leather but was not confident enough to order a whole hide, so I bought some stuff described as "recycled eco leather".

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221195365721

It's presumably a sort of "leather chipboard", made of minced up scraps. However they make it, I thought it was ideal for my chair. It feels and smells like leather (no surprise really) but has a strong cloth backing. It stretches just enough, is of consistent thickness and has no flaws or holes that yoy need to cut round. It is a very close match to the leather on our shop-bought dining chairs.

You can send off for free samples if you want (I did) and the same company sell direct outside of eBay if you prefer that.

 

[MartinCox]

Don't know whereabouts you are but I use Alma Leather, Greatorex St, London E.

An almost bewildering variety of qualities of hides, leather and suede. Sold in whole hides, part hides and off cuts. I go there and just select what I want, pay for it and leave. That kind of buying has its advantages if you're not buying a branded item

 

[Argus]

Paul, Andy and Martin,

Thanks for the helpful replies.

Sadly I'm not in London..... I live in mid Wales, but Alma leather sounds just right.

I'm making a chair from quarter-sawn Oak so I really want to keep the whole thing 'organic', if that's the right term, but I have seen the re-constructed leather on other items and it is intended to be hard-wearing.

I shall try to see what's available from Paul's recommendations..... after all, I only need a piece two feet by two feet.

Once again, many thanks for the pointers.

 

[custard]

It's presumably a sort of "leather chipboard", made of minced up scraps.

:lol:

Very funny, although I guess anyone other than a leather merchant would be hard pressed to tell the difference. i saw some chairs recently upholstered in "leatherette" and it looked pretty good to my untutored eye.

Incidentally, I've always found that if you're a bit flexible on the choice of colour you can usually get a part hide sufficient for one chair.