Under the influences of the COVID-19 outbreak, now more than ever, we are in tune with our surroundings. Designers today are more aware of the choices they make and the impact those choices have on our immediate surroundings, as well as on the environment as a whole. Likewise, it is our corporate responsibility to focus on how our business practices influence the environment. We uphold high standards on not only the quality of our products, but the business practices of our vendors and the impact they have on our environment. As a result, we are very selective about how and where our leather is made.

Not all leather is the same. We encourage you to shop and compare before you specify leather for your next project. Here are a few reasons why specifying Garrett leather is good for the environment.

Responsible Animal Farming

We sell genuine leather. Our products are by-products of the meat industry. Beef is the primary product and meat consumption worldwide is reaching record levels. The

February is the perfect month to get cozy with one of our three types of genuine Sheepskin. Sheepskin is a great option for all seasons because it stays cool in the summer and provides warmth in the winter. With winter in full swing and cabin fever at its height, our three types of Sheepskin provide the perfect remedy for the winter blues. This versatile product is used for furniture upholstery and ottomans, pilot seats, automotive and motor coach seats, as well as throw rugs in finer residences. It is naturally flame resistant and does not require any additional treatment. As a natural product, each fleece is unique and will vary in size, shape, and texture. No two skins are exactly alike.

Straight Fleece

Sheepskin Auto Gray

• Our most popular type of Sheepskin
• Also called ironed, unclipped
• Approximate fleece length is 1 inch (25 mm)
• Average hide size is 9 square feet
• 24 colors in-stock for immediate shipment

Sheepskin Dorado | Sydney Chair by Brett Design Inc.

Curly Fleece

 Sheepskin

Our leather is a by-product of the meat industry. Meat production and consumption worldwide is at staggering levels. There are more people to feed and as incomes rise, more people can afford to buy meat.

Farmers do not raise cows to sell the hides. Beef is the primary product, accounting for an average of 60% of the animal. Leather, on the other hand, accounts for an average of just 7% of the animal. What happens to the remaining 33%? Just about all of it is used and in a surprising array of industries.

Some by-products of the meat industry are life-saving, such as insulin for diabetic patients, drugs used during surgery, and many other pharmaceutical products. Below are just a few examples of other industries using these natural by-products.

By-products of the meat industry are used in numerous ways.

What does by-product of the meat industry mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a by-product is something produced in a usually industrial or biological process in addition to

Saddle Leather is a unique product that you may use for a variety of upholstery applications. It is heavier and thicker compared to most upholstery leathers. Some people may be intimidated by its thickness, however, its thickness does not limit its use. On the contrary, it is very versatile. So, put aside your fears. Let's look into how our Saddle Leather is made and how you can use it for your next project.

How Saddle Leather is Made

We invested in thorough research to develop a product that met our high quality production and performance standards. First, we explored different raw materials. Our Saddle Leather is made from Spanish bulls from a region near Barcelona. Our research indicated that Spanish bulls provide the largest and cleanest working area and have the most consistent thickness throughout each hide. Tanneries located in Tuscany Italy purchase these superior quality raw materials. They use chestnut tannins from Eastern Europe and Mimosa from Argentina to create this full grain,

Leather grain refers to the composition and appearance of the hide. It is similar to wood grain, which refers to the texture and appearance of wood fibers.  Unfortunately with leather grain, there is a lot of misinformation. In addition to inaccurate definitions, there are false claims regarding durability. We are here to help you learn the proper definitions and gain a full understanding of leather grain.

Top grain = the uppermost layer of the hide. Period.

Top grain refers to the composition of the hide. Some people equate top grain leather with corrected grain leather. This is not correct. Top grain simply refers to the uppermost, top layer of the hide. It is the most desirable layer for leather. Why? Because the fibers of the uppermost layer of the hide are the most dense, providing the strongest durability. As you move down to lower layers of the hide, the fibers are less compact, thereby providing a less durable fiber structure. Some companies use the lower layers of the hide

We originally developed Avion for aircraft interiors. This soft leather has a uniform grain and a durable finish. It is ideal for high traffic areas. We introduced the collection with 20 colors based on recommendations from our customers and it quickly became a top-selling product. After just two years, we more than doubled the size of the collection by adding 30 more colors. Today, Avion continues to be a customer-favorite across multiple industries for numerous reasons.

The 20 original Avion colors

Extensive Color Options 

Due to growing demand, we introduced 15 more colors this year.

The 15 NEW Avion Colors

Avion is now our largest leather collection with 80 different hues. All of the colors are based on customers' requests and some of the colors are from previous custom orders. Since we added these custom colors to our collection, you don't have to worry about long production lead times.  Now, you can receive leather right away, which saves precious time and money.

Fast

One way you can really impress your clients is to use leather for wall coverings and other vertical surfaces. Leather provides beautiful color and texture, added warmth, reduced noise, and exceptional durability. Previously, we published a step-by-step guide for our Wall Panels and Wall Tiles. With our Wall Panels and Wall Tiles, there are many ways to make each project unique with buttons, beveled edges, nail heads, and decorative stitching. Today, we're going to review a few additional unique wall covering options that are sure to impress your clients.

Cast Panels

Like the Wall Panels we discussed in our last blog, Cast Panels are made with an MDF substrate. Cast Panels, however, are different because we combine bold lines and shadow play with a routed design on the surface. Cast Panels come in different designs and styles. You can mix and match panels with a "V" or "X" pattern to create a unique layout or to draw the eye in different directions. Choose from three sizes and hundreds