Post List: Page 3

Looking for a way to add branding to your leather? We can help. Garrett Leather can add your company name, corporate logo, mascot or graphic, tagline, or any combination to your leather. We offer two methods for personalizing your leather.

Branding with Laser Etching

One way to add branding to your leather is with laser etching. Laser etching burnishes the surface of the leather to create unique designs. This method works best for designs that feature fine lines. We recommend selecting a lighter color leather for higher contrast. For laser etching orders, you will receive center cut pieces of leather size 50" x 70". You may request smaller sizes as well. We will provide a strike-off for your approval prior to final production. Most of Garrett's leather products may be laser etched. Due to product characteristics, some exceptions apply.

Branding with Raised Embossing

Raised embossing is another way to add branding to your leather. With raised embossing, we make a custom mold and the leather

Microsoft hired ai3 because of their hospitality expertise and approach. Ai3 created new spaces for Microsoft's Technology Center, Customer Experience, and Employee Areas. The new space included a massive 52 foot curved wall. The design team considered other wall cladding treatments, but remembered seeing our 3D wall applications at BDNY. As a result, ai3 contacted us to discuss alternative options. We worked closely with Harcourt London and ai3 to develop a solution for this important structure. Microsoft and the design team agreed that Alpine Tiles were the perfect product for this project. The Alpine Tiles are a beautiful abstraction of a Georgia pinecone, which reinforced the design team's nature theme.

See How Alpine Tiles Transformed the Microsoft Space

Award-Winning Products

Garrett Leather was the recipient of the Best of Year Award  by Interior Design Magazine for 3D Wall Applications. In addition to Alpine Tiles, we also offer Cast Panels and Pitched Panels. All of our wall

With laser etching, lasers are used to burnish the surface of the leather to create beautiful patterns and designs. The ordering process is easy. Simply select the leather, color, and pattern. For a subtle appearance, we recommend selecting a darker color leather. For a more bold look with high contrast, choose a lighter color leather. Laser etching is done on 70" x 50" center cut pieces of leather. Garrett Leather offers two standard options of laser etching.

Lattice

The Lattice pattern consists of fine lines and elegant diamond shapes.

Lattice pattern on Avion Coal 

Lattice pattern on Pearlessence Smoke

Prism

The Prism pattern includes geometric shapes and triangles.

Prism pattern on Caressa Vellum

Prism pattern on Resilience Tiger Eye

Create Your Own Patterns

In addition to our two standard options, Garrett Leather may also laser etch custom designs as well. Simply send us your camera-ready artwork for a price quote. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact

While Garrett Leather maintains an extensive inventory, we also offer a variety of custom services, including color matching. If you cannot find the exact color that you need from our everyday offerings, please contact us. In most cases, we can make precisely what you need. The process is easy and we'll help you every step of the way. We begin with what we have as a starting point. From there, we can determine what color is needed. For example, sometimes we have the perfect color, but it is not in the right product for your application. We will work with you to create the exact color in the product you need.

Color Matching Success Stories

A designer originally specified Kenya Clove for hotel headboards. We suggested a more durable product for this specific application. Consequently, we made the same color in Torino, a water-proof and UV protected leather. Torino also has a 50% lower price point than the original spec. The customer was happy with the final product, savings, and superior

Leather is a beautiful option for areas such as yacht interiors, summer homes, and beach-side resorts. Create beautiful spaces worry-free with waterproof leather. Here are some helpful tips to help you select the best option.

There is no reason to shy away from using leather, especially waterproof leather, for spaces that are subject to the elements. Leather is an excellent textile to use for multiple applications, including outdoor use. While vinyl is a low-cost option, it may not always be the best solution. Below is a side-by-side comparison of leather vs vinyl.

Leather offers superior durability, flexibility, softness, and comfort. Furthermore, leather typically outlasts vinyl and fabrics. Therefore, it is a more cost-effective option in the long run. Now that we've established the benefits of using leather over vinyl, let's discuss water resistance.

Water Resistant vs Waterproof Leather

Leather is a natural, porous material. After tanning, semi-aniline leather receives a protective,

Garrett Leather recently earned ISO 9001 Certification for our Quality Management System. ISO refers to the International Standards Organization, which is an independent, non-government international group. It was established in 1946 to coordinate and unify industrial standards. ISO 9001 Certification sets the criteria for a customer-focused quality management system.

ISO 9001 Certification Plaque

Why ISO 9001 Certification?

Garrett Leather has always maintained high quality standards for both products and services. In addition, we have continuously looked for ways to improve over the years. ISO 9001 certification confirms our commitment to providing the highest quality of products and efficient, accurate service. We pursued this internationally recognized certification for numerous reasons. It keeps our quality standards at the forefront, holds us accountable for our actions, and propels our continuous improvement efforts.

What is required to earn ISO 9001 certification?

The process

Tracy Weaver of Recovery Room Hot Rod Interiors in Nebraska is a master of automotive upholstery.  As a leader in the field, his innovation and creativity are inspirational. Tracy continues to put his stamp on the industry and shows no signs of letting up or slowing down. Just when you think he has done the most incredible interior job you have ever seen, he continues to raise the bar.

As a loyal Garrett Leather customer for over 20 years, Tracy spoke to us about his craft.

How did you get your start in automotive upholstery? What drew you to the car business?

I got my start working at another shop that did everything from repairs to commercial work.  Whenever anything came in that needed some creative work or when a custom car came in, I was the one who would do it. I found that my love of art and love for cars had paid off. I had a knack for design and could use the sewing machine pretty well. When the owner of that shop wanted to open another type of business, I started doing automotive

Pull-up leather is very popular, especially for residential, hospitality, and corporate settings. In order to fully appreciate this type of leather, it is important to understand its unique characteristics. While pull-up leather is similar to distressed leather, they are not exactly the same.

What is Pull-Up Leather?

Pull-up leather is aniline dyed in the drum to create deep, vibrant colors. It is finished with a combination of transparent waxes and oils, which gives the leather a very soft hand, or feel. When this leather is stretched or pulled, the color migrates and becomes lighter in the pulled areas. Hence, the name “pull-up” refers to this change in color. Drastic variations in light and dark areas increase as the leather is handled and stretched against the grain. The “pull-up” becomes more evident as the leather is stretched tightly around furniture frames and other materials. As a pure aniline leather, marks, scratches, and signs of wear will show and a rich patina, or shine,

It's easy to get overwhelmed when choosing leather suppliers. To help, here are 10 reasons to re-evaluate your leather supplier and work with Garrett Leather.

10. Missing Deadlines

Time is valuable. While you are often faced with tight time constraints, looming deadlines, and production schedules, your leather supplier should help ease the pressure, not add to it. If you are stressed about long lead times and potentially missing deadlines, then it's time to change leather suppliers. Most of us don't have the luxury of waiting 6 to 12 weeks for leather, so find a leather supplier that you can rely on to ship your leather to you when you need it.

Leather suppliers should be able to work with your schedule, not just theirs.

9. Difficulty Finding Exactly What You Need

Sometimes it is not always possible to find the precise color you need. Therefore, find a leather supplier that can make it for you. Of course, when customization is required, disregard reason number 10. High quality

Leather cleaning is a popular subject. We are often asked, what is the best way to clean stains on leather? The answers vary, depending on the type of leather in question and what caused the stain. Regardless of the leather or the stain, quick attention is always essential.

Semi-Aniline

Semi-aniline leathers receive a protective finish on the surface, so these types of leathers are the easiest to clean and maintain. The best course of action depends on what caused the stain. It is always recommended that liquid spills are blotted up immediately with a clean, dry cloth, with minimal rubbing. The spill should be allowed to air dry and dissipate without the use of heat dryers. For spills that may leave a stain, such as red wine, a mild cleanser may be used to remove the excess residue and remove the spill completely. Cleanser should not be applied to oil or grease stains. Ink stains and lipstick may also be removed from semi-aniline leather with the proper tools, such as Ink Remover. Again,