The utmost care goes into selecting the types of leather and hides used by KLOOFTIQUE. Only the finest hides on offer are selected from suppliers both locally and internationally. Please note that South African leather is in no way inferior to imported leather. KLOOFTIQUE uses only Top or Full Grain leather. These types of leather come from the uppermost layer of the hide, making it the most durable and beautiful. This is the most genuine type of leather, as it retains all of the texture and markings of the original hide.
The utmost care goes into the selection of the leathers and hides used by KLOOFTIQUE. Only the finest hides on offer are selected from suppliers both locally and internationally. Please note that South African leather is in no way inferior to imported leather. KLOOFTIQUE uses only Top or Full Grain leather. This type of leather comes from the uppermost layer of the hide, making it the most durable and beautiful. This is the most genuine type of leather, as it retains all of the texture and markings of the original hide.
TYPES OF LEATHER
MAINTAINING YOUR LEATHER IS PARAMOUNT
Leather shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight or harsh lighting in the same way that our skin will be damaged. Because leather is a natural product one should avoid using a wet cloth or any type of abrasive cleaning product to wipe or clean leather. We recommend using a slightly damp cloth, followed (once completely dry) by a leather hide food. When applying the hide food, this should be done evenly and with caution so as to avoid dark blotches forming due to excessive hide food in a concentrated area. Once the hide food has settled and dried, the sofa should be buffed up with a clean dry cloth.
Stains and spills are a part of everyday life and we suggest that in order to minimise your sofa looking shabby, it gets scotch guarded or safeguarded by a professional company.
LEATHER CARE TIPS FOR SOFAS
These simple tips will add years of life to your leather furniture.
- Avoid placing your sofa where it will receive direct sunlight. This can lead to fading.
- Avoid also positioning to near a heating source.
- Avoid spilling liquids on your sofa.
- Leather, being porous can act like a sponge.
- Spills should be mopped up with a soft cloth and then met with a leather conditioner after it’s dried.
- Never use a heating agent for drying out wet leather.
- A daily wipe with a soft moist (never wet) cloth will lift dust from the pores and allow the leather to breathe.
- Never use detergents, soaps, all-purpose cleaners or solvents when cleaning, as they contain chemicals harmful to leather.
- Being an organic product, your leather sofa or chair should have a monthly nourishing feed with a conditioner recommended by a respected leather man/ dealer.
MAINTAINING YOUR LEATHER IS PARAMOUNT
Leather shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight or harsh lighting in the same way that our skin will be damaged. Because leather is a natural product one should avoid using a wet cloth or any type of abrasive cleaning product to wipe or clean leather. We recommend using a slightly damp cloth, followed (once completely dry) by a leather hide food. When applying the hide food, this should be done evenly and with caution so as to avoid dark blotches forming due to excessive hide food in a concentrated area. Once the hide food has settled and dried, the sofa should be buffed up with a clean dry cloth.
Stains and spills are a part of everyday life and we suggest that in order to minimise your sofa looking shabby, it gets scotch guarded or safeguarded by a professional company.
LEATHER CARE TIPS FOR SOFAS
These simple tips will add years of life to your leather furniture.
- Avoid placing your sofa where it will receive direct sunlight. This can lead to fading.
- Avoid also positioning to near a heating source.
- Avoid spilling liquids on your sofa.
- Leather, being porous can act like a sponge.
- Spills should be mopped up with a soft cloth and then met with a leather conditioner after it’s dried.
- Never use a heating agent for drying out wet leather.
- A daily wipe with a soft moist (never wet) cloth will lift dust from the pores and allow the leather to breathe.
- Never use detergents, soaps, all-purpose cleaners or solvents when cleaning, as they contain chemicals harmful to leather.
- Being an organic product, your leather sofa or chair should have a monthly nourishing feed with a conditioner recommended by a respected leather man/ dealer.
+ - Aniline Leather
Many prefer pure aniline leather because of its natural look and the patina that develops over time. It has the look of natural leather but allows for availability in several different colours. The natural grain and any characteristic markings in the leather will be visible.
Natural aniline finished leathers will fade over time with exposure to sunlight and artificial light, but this process will be fast-tracked. An ANILINE-finished leather is a pure dye colour with no pigment or spray finish as a topcoat. It’s similar in finish to a varnished, natural wood which fades and changes colour when exposed to sunlight – an enamel painted piece of wood is more resilient to light and will take longer to discolour. The speed of the fading depends on the area in which the sofa is placed and the surrounding windows. The more exposure to light the quicker the leather will discolour.
+ - Semi-Aniline Leather
This type of leather uses a tiny amount of pigment or sometimes a clear finish so that the leather maintains the look of pure aniline leather, but the consistency of the colour is much more even, making it preferred by those interested in a rich, even colour.
+ - Oilskin Pull-up
Leather that is tanned using oils to create a soft, pliable finish. When the leather is stretched or pulled during upholstering the finish becomes lighter in the stretched areas. This is considered a mark of high quality.
+ - Distressed Leather
This is typically top grain leather that is aniline dyed, but later goes through a distressing process to make the leather appear aged. Desired by those wanting one of the antique-looking types of leather, without having to wait for natural ageing.
+ - Semi-Corrected Leather
Damage (biting flies, ticks, disease etc.) to the grain surface of the leather is disguised by abrading away (buffing) the scars and then completed by embossing or stamping a grain pattern onto the surface to ensure a smooth and uniform finish.