IMG LEATHER GUIDE - conceptsfurniture.com LEATHER GUIDE Whether you desire a racy red, powerful...

IMG LEATHER GUIDEWhether you desire a racy red, powerful pewter or go-for-it green, we have a plethora of shades that can serve as your foundation for great design. IMG offers four grades of leather choices to suit any décor, budget and maintenance expectation.

The wide variety of grades and colors offered by IMG allows you to select leather that will meet your budget, fashion and lifestyle needs.

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Every hide tells a story

No two leather hides are exactly alike, because each has a differ-ent history that may include cli-mate, age and heredity. At IMG, we specialize in leather. We under-stand the importance of consis-tent color and grain as well as the value and characteristics of the natural markings inherent to fine upholstery leathers.

An IMG leather hide is made by se-lecting the world’s finest cowhides – only few out of every hundred cowhides are suitable to become IMG upholstery leather. The hides are treated with old-world tan-ning techniques to turn them into supply, richly colored upholstery leather.

Although it is become common to use inferior parts of the hide, like bycast and split, IMG uses only the upper portion of the raw hide, which is called the top grain, in Prime, Trend and Elite collection. After tanning the hides are dyed with aniline dye. The translucent color brings out the natural mark-ings and grain pattern on each hide, much as stain enhances the grain on wood. After tanning the leather crust undergoes a careful processing with a protective top layer to enhance the performance and longevity of the leather.

Tanning and selectionThe art of finer leather

Leather is a natural product with many variations in its color and graining. It takes an excep-tional understanding of the upholstery process to anticipate how these characteristics will work best to create the most beautiful piece of furniture.

While initially more expensive than fabric upholstery, leather is recognized to be a better in-vestment over time. Leather has an average lifespan four times longer than that of fabric. Today’s active lifestyles require a furniture cover that can meet the demands of daily use and look great for years to come. As a natural material, leather has the ability to breathe, be it cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.

The appearance of finer leathers, such as Prime, Trend and Elite, are characterized by the individual animal’s history. Only very well-selected hides are suitable for furniture upholstery, depending upon the level of environmental impacts such as insect bites and scars. The pres-ence of irregularities proves the authenticity of truly natural leathers.

Prime

PRIME is a top grain aniline-dyed and pigmented upholstery leather with a thickness between 0.9-1.1 mm. It has been slightly corrected and Grain embossed to create a uniform appearance in both color and texture. The careful processing and protective top layer enhances the performance and longevity of this leather quality. Prime is therefore all about value and carefree maintenance.

Please note that that leather is a natural product and every hide has its own unique characteristics. Color and grain nuances are normal and can vary from hide to hide. Common surface variations include scratches, wrinkles and healed scars. Color change will occur with time, due to use and the effect of light. Dye lot variations on hides and fabrics might occur between samples, floor stock and furniture delivered. Color might also change with time, due to use and the effect of light. The appearance and color of the stain may vary depending upon the type of wood and individual grain patterns.

Our craftspeople review all fin-ished hides very carefully, looking for character and assessing qual-ity and best usage. Our goal is to showcase the beauty of each cre-ating a unique and lasting work of art in leather.

Natural Variation in Texture

Premium leather hides used for upholstering furniture will exhibit slightly non-uniform surface quali-ties, depending on the area of the hide from which they were cut. Pigment-dyed leathers are buffed and embossed to obscure some of these natural texture charac-teristics. Variations in texture are not flaws and will not affect the leather’s durability. Common sur-face variations include scratches, wrinkles and healed scars. A. Scratches

Smooth to the touch, these rub marks may accept dye with slight variation to the surrounding area.

A

B. Wrinkles

Natural folds highlight unique grain patterns.

C. Healed Scars

Barbed-wire scratches and abra-sions create organic surface tex-ture and one-of-a-kind authen-tic leather characteristics. These marks do not affect the durability of the hide.

B

C

Natural Variation in colors and Shades

Premium aniline and semi aniline dyed leather may further display subtle variations of color across the surface of the hide. When the hide is cut and sewn together on your furniture, care is taken to at-tempt 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 more premium leather.

P301 BLACK P302 HUNTER P304 BRONZE P305 CHERRY

P308 HAVANA P309 REDP306 OFFWHITE P307 LATTE

P312 BROWN P314 ANTIQUE REDP310 NATURE P311 WHITE


TREND is a premium top grain aniline-dyed upholstery leather with a rich and comfortable feel. The advance protection of Trend retains the natural leather characteristics leaving them virtually unaltered. Trend has an even, natural, plain grain pattern with a thickness of around 1.0 mm. A protective finish has been added to minimize stains. Trend is the ideal choice for families that wish to enjoy the pleasure of comfortable quality leather that is robust and easy to clean and maintain.


CLASSIC is a full grain aniline-dyed leather made from the best raw hide selection. These leathers are expectionally soft with visible natural marks. A minimal surface treatment has been added for increased protection. The thickness of approx. 1 mm makes it an ideal leather for upholstery. This natural leather breathes well and responds easily to body temperatures while the look and feel improves with age. With its luxurious feel and rich, warm, glow – Classic are definitely the choice of those who demand the very best.


Trend Classic

T403 LEMON T404 VANILLA

T406 CHOCOLATE T408 SAND

T401 TUXEDO T402 TOFFEE

T411 SNOW T412 SMOKE

T409 COGNAC T410 NATURE

T415 PACIFIC T416 GRAPHITE

T413 CHILLI T414 PEBBLE

C510 PECAN C515 BURGANDY C525 COFFEE


E601 LIMOUSINE E602 BOURBON E603 SAHARA E604 RUBY

E605 SADDLE E606 ESPRESSO A902 JAVA

ELITE is a full grain aniline-dyed leather made from the best raw hide selection. Elite leather has an all natural heavy grain texture with visible natural marks. A very light surface treatment has been added for increased protection. With a thick-ness between 1.4 to 1.5 mm which contributes to its robust nature – yet Elite still remains pliable and soft. This natural leather breathes well and responds easilyto body temperatures while the look and feel improves with age. With its luxurious feel and rich, warm, glow – Elite is the natural choice of those who demand the very best.

ANILINE is a pure top grain, full aniline-dyed “nude” leather that will really enhance the comfort of your furniture.

It has a completely natural surface and does not have any pigmented or composite top-layer. The original skin structure is intact and allows the leather to “breathe”. It will adjust to your body and be comfortable in all climates, humid or dry, warm or cold.

It is this ability to absorb moisture and breathe that create a uniquely comfortable feeling. The softness and thickness of the leather results in a naturally varied pebble grain with a rich look. The leather is distinguishable by its extremely soft touch, rich coloring and pronounced pebble graining. Only the highest premium European hides are used in the production of IMG Aniline leather. This is leather that will develop a nice patina effect during its lifespan and age with grace.

It possesses the characteristic features of the natural hide such as visible insect-bites and scars from healed wounds. The grain of the leather varies in structure and a slight color variation due to the characteristics of aniline leather has to be expected.

Even though this leather has not been coated with pigments, it is water repellent and offers protection against accidental spills. However, one should keep in mind that this is the most natural of leathers and, by its nature, it is not stain proof.

A connoisseur will appreciate all this leather has to offer.



Elite Aniline


Care instructionsBe careful not to place your furni-ture near a radiator or other heat source. We recommend at least two feet (sixty cm.) of space be-tween your furniture and the heat source to prevent excessive dry-ing.

All natural leathers will fade when placed in sunlight. Do not place your furniture near windows, under skylights or in direct sunlight.

Keep leather clean by dusting weekly with a soft, clean cloth or by vacuuming with a soft brush at-tachment. Keep a normal humid-ity level in the room.

All natural leathers are prone to staining from liquids, body oils and perspiration. We strongly recom-mend that you sign up for leather care program, endorsed by your retailer and apply protection cream prior to use. The protection cream, from an approved leather care program will help you main-tain your furniture through proac-tive care.

Stain RemovalFor minor spills, wipe off any excess liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. If nec-essary, lightly moisten a soft cloth with clean lukewarm water and let the area air-dry naturally. If wa-ter is used, clean the entire area where the spot occurred. Do not use soap or soak the stain heavily with water – this may cause more damage than the stain itself.

If necessary, gently wipe the area with a soft cloth, moistened with clean, lukewarm water and allow the area to air dry naturally.

If the stain persists, it is recommend-ed that the leather be cleaned by a professional leather care spe-cialist to avoid any potential dam-age to the leather.

Always try the cleaning method in a hidden area first. Never clean with a micro fiber cloth. The abil-ity of micro fiber cloths to remove grease may cause damage to the leather.

Leather Care and Cleaning

2 time/year

Protection Cream

ANILINE LEATHER – A leather dyed with pure aniline dyes rather than pigments. This transparent dye completely penetrates the hide with color, allowing the natural grain to show through while pro-tecting the surface.

ANILINE DYE – Translucent dyes which do not camouflage marks, but color the hide and bring out the natural character of the leath-er, much like a stain on wood.

ANTIQUING – A method of aging the appearance of a hide by the application of a darker color over a lighter color, creating dramatic highlights.

BUFFING – A mechanical process that reduces the appearance of surface blemishes from leather hides. Leather that is not buffed of surface blemishes from leather hides. Leather that is not buffed is called “full grain” because the natural grain retains its markings and characteristics.

BYCAST - or sometime called PU leather is a new development in upholstery leather. It is made of the bottom split layer of the hide and it is produced by first melting glue into the top surface and roll-ing on a very thick layer of polyure-thane protective coating. Bycast has usually a classic look, require less maintenance then more natu-ral leather and is virtually impen-etrable to water.

CORRECTED GRAIN – Leather on which the outer surface of the grain has been slightly removed by sanding. It is usually embossed with an artificial grain.

COW HIDE – The entire animal hide, which averages 45-50 square feet / 4-5 m2

CRUST – Leather that has been tanned, dyed and dried, but not finished.

DRUM DYED – A dyeing process in which leather is immersed in dye and tumbled in a rotating drum, ensuring maximum dye penetra-tion.

EMBOSSING – Impressing a pattern onto the surface of the hide to cre-ate a motif or texture. A very even and uniform pattern is created, possibly to disguise natural defects or blemishes, or to create visually exciting designs.

FAT WRINKLE - Natural wrinkles in the leather grains that are a part of its unique beauty. These are only visible in top grain leathers.

FINISHING – Any processing per-formed after the initial dyeing such as buffing, embossing, milling, spraying, waterproofing, top coat, waxing, etc.

FULL ANILINE – Leather receiving its color from aniline dyes only.

FULL GRAIN – The outer layer taken from the hide’s hair side with only the hair removed. The hide has not been buffed or sanded, leaving the grain and natural marking.

GRAIN - The pattern and texture of a hide’s surface. This can be natu-ral, as in full grain, or it can be a pattern embossed onto the hide.

HAND – A term that describes the leather’s softness and feel.

HAND ANTIQUED – Also referred to as “hand rubbing.” The process where skilled craftsmen rub a con-trasting color onto the surface of the leather to accentuate the nat-ural grain or embossing.

HEALED SCARS - Barbed-wire scratches and abrasions create or-ganic surface texture and one-of-a-kind authentic leather charac-teristics. These marks do not affect the durability of the hide.

HIDES - Skins of large animals, al-most always from cattle. Elite Leather Company uses cow hides exclusively.

LEATHER - A hide, or skin, that has been tanned into a nonperishable material.

LIMING – The process of removing hair from a raw hide through the use of chemicals.

MILLING - Process in which tanned hides are tumbled in rotating drums using a combination of heat and a misting of water to soften the hand or enhance the grain.

NATURAL GRAIN - Leather whose grain has not been altered in any way, so the natural appearance of the grain is apparent.

NUBUCK ANILINE - A top grain aniline-dyed leather from which the top hair cell layer has been re-moved through buffing to create a soft nap effect.

PATINA - A lustrous glow on the sur-face of the leather that develops on full anilines and nubucks with time and use.

PROTECTED - Leather whose sur-face is coated with pigment or other opaque solution for uniform color and cleanability. The natural marks of the hide cannot be seen.

PULL-UP – When this leather is pulled during upholstering, oil or wax dyes dissipate and become lighted in some areas, creating a multi-tone effect.

PURE ANILINE - Leather which re-ceives its only color from dyes and exhibits natural marking and char-acteristics.

SAUVAGE - Leather with a marbled appearance, created by blend-ing two or more similar colors to add depth and character. Can be tone-on-tone or a contrast effect.

Leather Glossary

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Leather Glossary

SCRATCHES - Smooth to the touch, these rub marks may accept dye with slight variation to the sur-rounding area.

SEMI-ANILINE - Also called aniline Plus, this is leather dyed with pure aniline dyes with a light surface finish to enhance durability while maintaining a soft, natural hand.

SHAVING - This operation is per-formed to give uniform thickness to leather surface.

SPLIT -The under portion if a hide or skin that has been split into two or more thicknesses. Splits may be finished and embossed to simulate a full top grain, but are not as high quality. Splits are often used for suede.

SPLITTING – Mechanical operation performed to separate top grain leather, the upper part, from split, the lower part.

SUEDE – Leather produced front he flesh split, exhibiting a velvet-like nap. Suede splits are not top grain leathers, and do not have the same strength and integrity.

TANNING - The process of convert-ing a raw hide into a stable, non-perishable state.

TECHNICAL LEATHER – leather primarily designed to withstand tough wear and tear conditions, for instance in the automotive and aviation industries. Our Prime leath-er is close to meet these standards at the same time as it remains the touch and comfort of upholstery leather.

TOPCOAT - Synthetic transpar-ent resins applied as a protective coating from a high gloss to a matte finish.

TOP GRAIN - The top layer and highest quality part of the hide. When leather is split in processing, the top grain is the upper portion of the hide. Because of its strength and beauty, this supple layer is the standard of fine upholstery.

WRINKLES - Natural folds highlight unique grain patterns.

IMG ASPostboks 251

N-6239 Sykkylven Norway

Tel: + 47 70 27 10 40 Fax:+ 47 70 27 10 41

E-mail: [email protected]

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