Semi-aniline leather?

paulpud

Back in May I saw a couple of sofas on the web that were advertised as 100% semi-aniline leather. I visited one of their stores to view one but I didn't particularly like the leather as it felt quite tough and had quite a coarse grain. The salesperson explained that this was a corrected grain leather, an inferior product to the semi-aniline, and showed me another sofa with the semi-aniline covering. This was softer with a much finer grain so I went away to have a think about it and check dimensions before placing my order online the following day.

Yesterday my partner took delivery of the sofas and she phoned me at work to tell me about a couple of problems she'd identified, one of which was the leather, saying that she thought it looked like the coarse grain one we saw originally in the store. When I arrived home yesterday evening I inspected it myself and I am less than convinced it is semi-aniline and certainly not like the soft, fine grain leather we were shown in store.

My partner phoned the company who are arranging for a technician to inspect other problems with the sofas but confirmed it had been ordered correctly in semi-aniline leather.

I have attached photos of the grain pattern of the leather but is there any other way of determining what leather it is?

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x14/paulpud/DSC_0082.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x14/paulpud/DSC_0094.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x14/paulpud/DSC_0092.jpg

judyb

The main problem you have here is the term 'semi aniline' which has no specific definition (we have seen at least 4 which all contradict one another including the one in British Standards). It is the most misused term in the furniture industry and can be used indiscriminately to describe almost anything. We have samples of fully corrected pigment coated leather that has the description semi aniline on it.
The photos appear to show a corrected grain pigment coated leather which in our opinion should not be described as a 'semi aniline' but there is no standard by which to judge this.
We can examine a sample if that would help and will be able to tell you what type it is.
Unfortunately it is now your word against the shops as to what you actually saw and ordered but will be worth going back into the store to see if they still have the sample you saw and then check your order carefully.
Hope this helps
Judyb

paulpud

Thanks

I think our next step will be to await the outcome following a visit from the technician.

Regardless of the type, we do have other issues with leather panels where the grain is almost non-existent and the surface is crinkled like tissue paper and very delicate, having already suffered scuffs and scratches before we took delivery.

strawberries1

Hi, I'm considering ordering a corner fabric sofa. Where was your's from please?

Ionkontrol

strawberries1 wrote: »

Hi, I'm considering ordering a corner fabric sofa. Where was your's from please?

The OP is complaining about a a furniture store and you want to buy a sofa from them :rotfl::rotfl:

strawberries1

Ionkontrol wrote: »

The OP is complaining about a a furniture store and you want to buy a sofa from them :rotfl::rotfl:

Where did you read that from?
If she says where it's from then I know to avoid. Just as I now know semi-aniline can mean anything.

ormus

almost all leather furniture sold today is semi aniline.
which simply means a protective coat is applied over the aniline dye, to protect the leather.
the trouble is that there is no true standard to adhere to. so there are as many qualities as there are retailers/makers.