Bonded leather becoming popular for upholstery

Upholstering automotive interiors and furniture with genuine leather involves paying top dollar for irregularly shaped hides that are hard to handle. Rising leather prices “have made it next to impossible to hit key opening retail price points of $799 to $999 with top-grain leather,” according to Don Hunter, senior vice president at Jackson Furniture Industry Inc., Cleveland, Tenn. Bonded leather, made from leather fragments and fibers bonded to a backing, was introduced several years ago and is now becoming more popular among upholstery manufacturers, making up as much as 50 percent of the leather furniture segment. The improved look and feel of bonded leather, along with its lower price and availability in manageable rolls like upholstery fabric, have added to its appeal.