GROOVE LEATHER

A Quick Guide to Groove’s Leathers

July 4th, 2010

American Beauty – Inspired by the American Beauty rose, this full-grain, semi-aniline embossed leather has a deep, rich hand finish.

B Natural – Soft, pure aniline-dyed leather that patinas over time. Beautiful, natural characteristics of this full-grain leather are self evident. European origin.

Cadenza – Subtle mottling process provides this full-grain leather with a two-toned marbled effect. European origin. Cadenza has little surface protection. Scratches and marks may appear over time. This appearance is the “character” of the leather.

Classical – Leather with an applied savauge effect and finished with a slight sheen for protection. Top-grain.

Improv – Beautifully glazed full-grain leather with a controlled, sophisticated pull-up effect.

Iridium – Bold metallic finish. Exclusive finishing technique gives the leather a high level of resistance to wear and spills.

Jazz – Soft metallic finish. Exclusive finishing technique gives the leather a high level of resistance to wear and spills.

Repertoire – Semi-aniline, raddled-looking leather with a waxy, protective finish.

Reverie – Gorgeous, aniline dyed full-grain leather, admired for its natural characteristics. European origin.

Rhapsody – Full-grain leather with a consistent, even coloration throughout. Produced on the finest hides from Switzerland and Germany., the leather offers a smooth tight grain. The protective, breathable finish provides greater protection from everyday wear.

Rowla Stingray / Shagreen – Full-grain, semi-aniline dyed leather with a two-tone hand finish.

Solo – Nubuck hides that are beautiful, durable, and versatile. European origin.

Tempo – Top-grain, semi-aniline leather with a consistent, even coloration throughout. Smooth, tight, embossed grain. Ideal leather for the budget minded specification. Fully pigmented topcoat provides added protection.

Psychedelic Furs and Hair on Hides – Variety of prints and colors. Please inquire.

All leathers meet California Technical Bulletin 117 Section E. for flame resistance. Meets CA 01350 VOC Standard

Tags: Upholstery Leathers
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Introducing 5 New colors of Shagreen (Stingray)

June 2nd, 2010

A

rriving 5 New Colors of Shagreen (Stingray)–Full-grain, semi-aniline dyed leather with a two-tone hand finish..

Rowla Stingray/Shagreen colors from left to right

Color 4040 (Salt & Pepper)
Color 4010 (Sand)
Color 4020 (Sea Shell)
Color 4030 (Coral)
Color 4001 (Black Pearl)

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To paraphrase Forrest Gump: “Green is as green does”

May 2nd, 2010

“A

rose, is a rose, is a rose,” wrote Gertrude Stein, but green is not always ”green.” Some of you have asked if Groove’s green. The answer is yes.

The industry has been chromium tanning leather for 150 years. Chromium tannages speed up the production cycle over vegetable tanning (the thousands year old method for tanning leather), and it allows colors to be absorbed more effectively. Far more recently, there’s been a quiet call for chrome-free tanning by the interior design trade, whereby chromium chemicals are removed from the process.

Look at the leathers in any designer’s resource library or at a showroom near you, and I can confidently say the vast majority of the leathers are chromium-based (some are chromium tanned with a vege-retan). Chromium tanning remains the industry standard, and the handling of chromium waste is well understood. The factories Groove uses (including it’s domestic facility) has on-site waste treatment operations. These are expensive operations that treat the water run-off from the tanning process by removing the harmful residue before the water is released into the sewage system. The techniques for maximizing the result of this process are honed, unlike the techniques for chrome-free.

What about Greenguard? Remember, Greenguard isn’t about whether a factory produces leather environmentally or not, it’s about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released into the air (i.e., the “off-gassing” of products during their recommended use and applications). The water-based finishing products used in leather release naturally low VOCs. That “new car” smell isn’t coming from the leather, but the laminates, plastics, and glues used to hold everything together in an automobile.

It’s ironic that leather needs to fight the same “green” battle as the nylon carpet business, vinyl wall covering, wood laminate business, etc., but I recognize its the necessary reality.

Eventually, Groove will register with Greenguard and test its leathers, but this is probably a year away because of the huge expense. In the meantime, I’d remind designers that Groove’s product (a product of nature) and its production process are very green indeed.

Posted in 8. Designer Interest | 1 Comment »

Red Rose

April 30th, 2010

I

ntroducingRed Rose–a full-grain leather with a high-gloss, two-tone finish. Available in 1/2 hide increments. Can be custom colored and finished matte or glossy.

American Beauty 4110

Tags: Semi-Aniline Dyed
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Gaufrage

March 15th, 2010

G

roove offers many gaufrage patterns (click here to see) that can be applied to lamb skin, center cut hides, or sides (i.e., half hides) of leather.

Gaufrage is a roller-based embossing technique that’s typically applied to aniline dyed leather. Natural variations in color are part of the beauty of this leather artwork and highlight each hide’s unique history and natural markings.

Aster China Dot Bamboo Regal Diamond

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Pantone’s Fashion Color Report for Fall 2010

February 23rd, 2010

Click here to read more about Pantone’s Fall’s Fantasy for 2010

Endive
Golden Glow
Living Coral
Lipstick Red
Purple Orchid
Chocolate Truffle
Lagoon
Woodbine
Oyster Gray
Rose Dust

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Iridescence Leather

January 25th, 2010

G

roove introduces Iridescence®–a leather with a unique finishing process incorporating color-shifting pigments and 100 percent recycled glass.

Iridescence is made-to-order in 3 standard colors: Maple, Titanium and Scarabeus.

Tags: Full-grain, Semi-Aniline Dyed
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Groove Leather iPhone App

December 2nd, 2009

Visit iTune’s to download Groove’s iPhone app.

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What is the best way to clean leather furniture?

November 19th, 2009

I

n general, leather surfaces need only be wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust or grime.

However, because of other environmental factors like home heating and cooling systems, and sunlight, most leather also requires moisture to keep it from cracking, flaking or splitting.

Along with checking your smoke detector batteries during your bi-annual Spring-forward/Fall-back routine, take a sparing amount of saddle soap and moist sponge, and lather up your leather upholstery. Once the soap has dried, buff the leather with a soft, dry cloth.

Alternatively, a few drops of Castile soap in a quart of tepid water, applied with a damp sponge or cloth, works well too. If you want a specially formulated cleaning product visit Lexol or Apple Brand; and for tougher issues visit DYO Chemical.

View Types of leather and Care & Maintenance to learn more about the types of upholstery leather you’re specifying (full-grain, top-grain, aniline, and nubuck), and how to go about maintaining it.

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Pantone’s Fashion Color Report for Spring 2010

October 16th, 2009

Click here to read more about Pantone’s Splashes of Sunshine for Spring 2010

Turquoise
Tomato Puree
Fusion Coral
Violet
Tuscany
Aurora
Amparo Blue
Pink Champagne
Dried Herb
Eucalyptus

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PANTONE colored Ostrich

September 1st, 2009

M

ade to order. 2 hide minimum. European full-grain selection. Semi-aniline finish. 2-3 week lead time. Available in a variety of other embossings.

PANTONE colored Ostrich

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To chrome or not to chrome…? That is the question

August 25th, 2009

T

here has been much debate over the environmental credentials of chromium as a tanning material. Work carried out at BLC investigating the life cycle of three tanning materials, (chromium, aldehyde based tanning materials and vegetable tanning systems), determined that each of these materials has specific advantages and disadvantages in terms of their life cycle and were comparable in terms of environmental profile. Click here to read the entire article appearing in Leather Magazine

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Which way does your croc run?

July 1st, 2009

E

mbossing is a creative way to develop unique upholstery leather for your client. But there’s a couple of things you should know.

Firstly, as a matter of standard practice, most (not all) embossings are made on half-hides measuring about 25+ square feet. The reason is that a lot of the leather industry’s machinery goes back to the day when embossing was primarily for apparel (e.g. belts, hand-bags).

The implication is simply that if your upholsterer requires very large cut sizes – perhaps for big wall panels, large banquettes, or oversized sectionals — you may want to see if options are available to emboss on whole hides. If they are, be prepared to pay more. There’s more hand-eye coordination required, which means more time producing the end-product.

Secondly, find out which way the embossing pattern runs. As just mentioned, a bunch of embossing plates were originally developed for apparel, so the pattern repeats may not run in the direction you need. This is analogous to fabric whereby you think about railroading, etc.

All of Groove’s embossing patterns listed on the web site were developed for upholstery leather.

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Color lifestyles 2009-2010

June 27th, 2009

C

olor specialists seeking to identify which cultural and lifestyle trends will have global relevance, named 4 sociological themes that will impact color choices going into 2010.

1. Reinventing happiness–consumers repsonding to the seemingly precarious nature of life will seek out things that give them pleasure and satisfaction such as creating a peaceful home environment or pursuing an escape.

2. Tech it easy–designers are less daunted to cross established boundaries and embrace new materials and textures.

3. Embracing Gaia–acknowledges how modern materials allow creative people freedom to express themselves through inspirations from mother nature.

4. Age shock–boundaries between the generations are less distinct. Energy and attitude overlap Baby Boomers who enjoy hip, active lifestyles, and younger people look to embrace style and sophistication.

Source: Clariant Masterbatches Division

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The ben Color Capture app for iPhone

June 15th, 2009

ben Color App

Benjamin Moore has made color matching easier than ever with its new ben Color Capture iPhone application. Take a picture of anything that has the “perfect-color-you’ve-been-looking-for” with your iPhone, and with your new ben® Color Capture™ app, tap the “match” key. In just seconds, a strip of colors pop up under your photo with the closest paint color match highlighted.

Download your free ben Color Capture app from the AppStore Web site, www.apple.com/iphone/appstore

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Demystifying Leather

May 30th, 2009

What You Should Know When Specifying Leather (PDF Brochure)

Here’s what you should know about when specifying leather:

Raw material (geographic region, selection)
Tannages (chromium, vege, chrome-free)
Dyeing
Embossing (texturing)
Finishing (coloring, tipping, etc.)

You should care about these topics because you want to:

Choose leather products that are suitable to their application and the client’s expectations
Know your options when dealing with budgets
Educate your client

Raw Material is Key

Care and climate affects the quality of leather hides. Cows raised in cooler climates, that graze on open ranges, and that have good veterinary care, have fewer defects (e.g. scratches, bites). Cows raised in hotter climates or that roam among barb wired fences have more defects.

Additionally, species of cow differ in size and shape. US cows, for example, tend to be smaller than European cows. Many South American cows are Zebus (they have large humps).

Remember that “defect free” doesn’t necessarily mean most desired and appreciated. Natural characteristics are often valued by leather connoisseurs. As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Why Does it Matter How Leather is Tanned?

Until a hide is tanned it’s a rawhide. To create a supple product, leather is either chromium or vegetable tanned. Chromium tannages, introduced in the 19th century are the preferred method for tanning leather. A chrome tannage yields a soft hand. Vegetable tanning is used when firmer leather is required.

Full Grain, Top Grain… Who Cares?

Full grain and top grain leather refers to the overall quality of the leather. Full grain leather tends to be relatively defect free (i.e., doesn’t need correction), and is undisputedly the leather of choice for clients looking for a product that ages beautifully over time.

Top grain leather refers to leather hides that need additional processing (i.e., “buffing”) to reduce or eliminate imperfections. Top grain leathers receive a heavier top coat of pigment to smooth out the finish and to give the leather protection against minor scratches and spills. Top grain leathers are ideally suited for heavily trafficked areas.

Why is Leather Dyed?

Fine upholstery leather should be dyed close to the final finish color. Dying the crust (i.e., tanned hide) to match the finished color helps to mask superficial scratches that can occur during normal wear. Budget leathers may well be produced on mismatched crust colors.

Why Is Leather Embossed?

Most people think embossing is simply for decorative purposes. Plating (embossing with a natural looking grain) is also common. If desired, plating can give a full- or top-grain leather a uniform look, or make a flat looking leather come alive.

The Finishing Process

Finishing (or top coating) is the final step to giving a leather product its unique characteristics. The purpose of finishing is to modify the leather’s color and to provide a protective surface.

Aniline dyed leather refers to a finished product that has been fully colored without the use of pigments.

Aniline dyed leather is a connoisseur’s delight. The natural grain is easy to recognize, and all the hallmarks of the leather are evident (e.g., fat folds, neck wrinkles, even minor scarring). Semi-aniline dyed leather refers to a lightly pigmented protective finish that gives the leather a more uniform appearance, and stain and water resistance.

Posted in 8. Designer Interest | 1 Comment »

Showroom Representation

May 15th, 2009

Michael Tavano Designs

The New York Design Center

200 Lexington Avenue Ste 1212
New York, NY 10016
TEL 212.564.0034
FAX 212.564.035

Michael Taylor Designs

San Francisco

155 Rhode Island Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
TEL 415.934.9400
FAX 415.934.9404

Los Angeles

8687 Melrose Avenue #B542
Los Angeles, CA 90069
TEL 310.360.8118
FAX 310.360.8111

Chicago

222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1868-A
Chicago, IL 60654-1414
TEL 312.828.0488
FAX 312.828.0481

New York

Decoration & Design Building
979 Third Avenue, Suite 1640
New York, NY 10022
TEL 646.497.1502
FAX 646.497.0573

Miami/Dania

DCOTA
1855 Griffin Road, Suite C-354
Dania, FL 33004
TEL 954.922.8141
FAX 954.922.8151

Cory Pope

Texas

150 Turtle Creek Blvd Ste 205
Dallas, TX 75207
TEL 214.981.9119
FAX 214.981.9120

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How well do you see color?

April 30th, 2009

T

ry X-Rite’s free online version of its professional Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test used by companies to distinguish between individuals who have poor, normal, or exceptional color vision.

Posted in 5. Color Stories | No Comments »

Cradle to cradle

April 2nd, 2009

F

or those of you who are interested in reading a frank assessment of the leather industry’s role in sustainability, I recommend “Marketing claims that miss out on the truth” (PDF format). In this article, Michael Braungart, author of “Cradle to Cradle” talks about how designers play an important role by selecting materials that are well understood and sound not only for the job in hand but for perpetuity. (Related topic “To paraphrase Forrest Gump: ‘Green is as green does’”).

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Stahl publishes its latest seasonal color forecast for Spring and Summer of 2010

March 10th, 2009

S

tahl, a leading supplier to the leather tanning and finishing industry, recently released their seasonal color forecast for Spring and Summer 2010. (Maybe they can supply us with a rosy economic forecast for 2010 too).

Stahl’s booklet is designed to provide illustrative information on how and where the colors may be used. The aim is to bring into focus a closer relationship between fashion effects and colors and ways in which leather will support these.

Additional help for designers is provided by the inclusion of the closest Pantone© Textile color references for all the colors in the booklet. For more information, please visit Stahl

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Gaufrage roller plates

March 8th, 2009

: Adobe

: Afgan Scroll

: Alice

: Artic Ice

: Aster

: Baby Croc

: Baby Gator

: Bamboo

: Bar Moire

: Basketweave

: Berber Stripe

: Blotch Moire

: Blotch Plaid

: Blocks

: Bouquet

: Bowties

: Bubble Dots

: Buds

: Burton Paisley

: Canyon

: Champagne

: Checkers

: Chevron

: China Dot

: Clover

: Corduroy

: Corsage

: Country Lace

: Course Linen

: Crystal

: Daisies

: Diablo

: Regal Diamond

: Diamond Circle

: Diamond Dot

: Diamond Pique

: Diamond Ribbon

: Diamond Quilt

: Diamond Scroll

: Dragonfly

: Royal Crown

: Dutch Vine

: English Weave

: Fantasia

: Festival

: Floral Ribbon

: Flower Basket

: Gardenia

: Hammered Brass

: Heraldic

: Heraldic Diamond

: Herringbone

: Hieroglyph

: Horton Grain

: Inchworm

: Iris

: Large Flower

: Le Cirque

: Leaf

: Lightning

: Gauze

: Linen

: Lollipop

: Long Stems

: Long Stripe

: Longwood Garden

: May Flowers

: Meadow

: Lace

: Modern Paisley

: Moire Flower

: More Stripes 3/4"

: Nice Stripes 1/4"

: Paisley

: Papillon

: Parquet

: Pebble Grain

: Peony

: Perennial

: Persian Lamb

: Plaid

: Plume

: Polo Stripe

: Pond

: Popcord

: Provence Lace

: Ostrich Quill

: Flower Reef

: Rotary

: Saturn

: Lizard

: Scoth Grain

: Silk Weave

: Small Dots

: Smooth Pebbles

: Snakeskin

: Snowflakes

: Soft Linen

: Spanish Gate

: Splash

: Stonehenge

: Strata

: Stucco

: Summer Rain

: Sunflower

: Swirl

: Tea Rose

: Textured Dots

: Thin Stripes

: Tiny Checkers

: Tiny Stars

: Tooled Flower

: Tooled Leather

: Tree Bark

: Trellis

: Tulips

: Victoria

: Vineyard

: Web Burst

: Wedgewood

: Wild Boar

: Willow Weave

: Windmill

: Zinnia

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$28 Million for a leather chair

February 27th, 2009

Eileen Gray’s “Dragons” leather upholstered lounge chair, owned by fashion designer icon Yves Saint Laurent, sold for about $28 million this week. Please let the new owners know that they can recover it in Groove Leather for about $28,000,000 less.

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Pantone Unveils Fashion Color Report for Fall 2009

February 21st, 2009

Source: PANTONE
Copyright PANTONE Inc. 2009

To look up a color, visit PANTONE’s Color Search

1. American Beauty

2. Purple Heart

3. Honey Yellow

4. Iron

5. Crème Brûlée

6. Nomad

7. Burnt Sienna

8. Rapture Rose

9. Warm Olive

10. Majolica Blue

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How Pantone chooses its colors and predicts color trends

January 30th, 2009

E

xpo TV interviews Lee Eisman, the Director of the Pantone Color Institute. Eisman discusses how Pantone chooses its colors and predicts color trends.

You may be surprised by the amount of research that goes into selecting new colors and keeping existing colors fresh – factors ranging from economic conditions, world affairs, clothing featured in the entertainment industry, home décor trends and art trends play into the decision making process.

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1:18

January 15th, 2009

W

hen specifying leather, the COM to COL ratio is 1:18 (i.e., 1 yard of fabric measuring 36”x54” = 18 square feet of leather).

True the math isn’t precise because 1 yard equals 1944 square inches or 13.5 square feet. But because leather is irregular in shape the industry adds a waste factor.

Click here to view some examples for quickly estimating how many square feet you’ll need for a particular piece of furniture. Always, check with your upholsterer/ manufacturer for specific requirements.

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Color and leather

January 5th, 2009

D

esigner’s are critical about color, so remember a few things when specifying a custom colored leather.

Start the process properly by specifying the light source that you’ll be viewing the strike-off under. If you’re specifying COL for an office, it might be best to consider fluorescent lighting; daylight for marine or aircraft, and incandescent for the home. When you receive the strike-off make sure you view it under the same lighting source that you requested; and remember that what you lay the strike-off on can influence the color you’re evaluating.

Also consider that top-coatings used to protect your leather may give the final product a slight color cast or a dull/shiny appearance. These factors are controllable during the production process.

By the way… when specifying a natural aniline dyed leather remember that every cowhide absorbs dyes differently. There could be color variations within a hide and/or across a dye lot. This, of course, is the beauty of an aniline dyed leather, but make sure you educate your client so there are no surprises.

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