B-Y Married Leather program vs USA made brands

[APairAndaSpare]

I came across this article when the term “Married Covers Program” came up on Bradington-Young’s website. So, now I’m wondering if it makes more sense to stick with Omnia which is ALL USA made. Or go with the B-Y married covers which are almost guaranteed to be made in China and the quality not quite up to the same par. I don’t want overly sanded or protected leather giving it a “vinyl” look. Jeez, they make it hard for consumers to figure this all out and still not break the bank. 🥴


https://fineleatherfurniture.com/lea...cover-leathers

[drcollie]

That article from Wellington House is not worth the digital paper irs printed on. It’s full of inaccuracies and flat out wrong. I will not pick it apart point by point, however. Be careful whom you believe. The correct information is already posted here on the forum in prior posts.

Good luck in your search.

[APairAndaSpare]

Thank you, Duane. I had initially thought I was on B-Y’s website. Then I noticed it said Wellington House above. I’ll do a search here for Married Covers and leather from China, etc. I’m confused. The whole reason I’ve been looking at these higher end brands is because I wanted to stay AWAY from Chinese tanneries. I understand that most of the better companies import leather from Europe and Brazil, etc. My own city used to have a tannery back in the day. Wonderful place. I know there are far too many restrictions in the U.S. now. But, could that mean China’s aren’t as restrictive? I’m thinking of formaldehyde for one.

Off to do my search.

That article from Wellington House is not worth the digital paper irs printed on. It’s full of inaccuracies and flat out wrong. I will not pick it apart point by point, however. Be careful whom you believe. The correct information is already posted here on the forum in prior posts.

Good luck in your search.

[drcollie]

I would suggest you read through this entire thread, if you do them you will know more than 95% of all furniture store salespeople regarding leathers.

http://www.myfurnitureforum.com/show...-FORUM-lt-READ

Good European hides are expensive. Many of my clients opt for them and realize they come with a higher price tag.

South American hides are decent, but the cows are way more banged up than European ones due to bug bites and barbed wire.

China has no cattle industry, btw. And the USA has virtually no tanneries due to OSHA / EPA requirements. So all leather sent to China for processing is from USA slaughterhouses. I find leather tanned in China to be extremely consistent and reliable, but not what you would call inspiring or artistic. There is no formaldehyde used in tanning, that's wood glue in plywood.

Like the saying goes "you pays your money, you take your choice" You can have top quality OR you can work within a budget, but you can't really have both. A typical married cover H&M sofa may be $ 3,500 - and we can take that same frame and put a GR 4 / 5 German or fine Italian hide on it and it will be $ 5,500. You have to decide if that leather is worth another $ 2K when everything else remains the same.

[APairAndaSpare]

Thanks, Duane. So basically it sounds like even though Omnia uses European leathers and H&M uses Chinese tanneries, overall a piece of reclining furniture will be constructed with better quality through H&M. As you said, the leather is just part of the whole picture and it depends on one’s budget what they want to spend. Obviously, I don’t want a recliner with poorly made “innards” even if the cover IS top quality. At the same time, my goal is to have well-built reclining furniture with a decent piece of leather on the outside. By the way, does a company such as Omnia process their leather in Europe since they no longer do it in the USA? I’ll go read your link now. Also, are H&M’s Chinese processed leather painted? If so, does that paint wear off over time? I’ve seen that happening with brands like Flexsteel.
I have no idea where this piece of dark green leather on my 27+ year old recliner was tanned, but there is absolutely no signs of wear and tear or fading, etc.

I would suggest you read through this entire thread, if you do them you will know more than 95% of all furniture store salespeople regarding leathers.

http://www.myfurnitureforum.com/show...-FORUM-lt-READ

Good European hides are expensive. Many of my clients opt for them and realize they come with a higher price tag.

South American hides are decent, but the cows are way more banged up than European ones due to bug bites and barbed wire.

China has no cattle industry, btw. And the USA has virtually no tanneries due to OSHA / EPA requirements. So all leather sent to China for processing is from USA slaughterhouses. I find leather tanned in China to be extremely consistent and reliable, but not what you would call inspiring or artistic. There is no formaldehyde used in tanning, that's wood glue in plywood.

Like the saying goes "you pays your money, you take your choice" You can have top quality OR you can work within a budget, but you can't really have both. A typical married cover H&M sofa may be $ 3,500 - and we can take that same frame and put a GR 4 / 5 German or fine Italian hide on it and it will be $ 5,500. You have to decide if that leather is worth another $ 2K when everything else remains the same.

[SueCT]

Maybe by now you have read that thread and realize there are many assumptions in your questions that are not actually true. H&M does NOT use all hides from China. As Duane said you take your choice with H&M and can get hides from all over the world. They are from China, from Italy, from Brazil, from lots of places. They are painted, they are fully dyed, they are whatevery you want based on the leather YOU pick. There are no hides tanned in the US any more. I would also be very suprised if every hide in Omnia comes from the same place unless there simply are not that many choices. So you are making assumptions based on articles with inaccurate information. Where, by the way, did you get the information that Omnia does not use leather from China? I could not see that anywhere on their website and could not find anything about where each leather is sourced from, and they are NOT tanned in the US since there basically isn't any done here for any manufacturer. Even if they use European leathers ghat does not mean they don't also use Chinese leathers. H&M uses European leathers too. But not ALL of their leathers are from one place. I think honestly, as much as you WANT to believe it is the case, you are not going to get a well built sofa with a top quality European hide for 2000.00. So some of that information is clearly not accurate. How do I know? I did the same research about 2-3 years ago. An honest seller, which admittedly is hard to find at times, will find out for you where the leather you are considering sources from. If they say they can't, they know you won't like the answser. I honestly do not believe Omnia does not use any leathers from China. Their website does not say they source all leathers from Europe. They say "Over 30 years ago, they sourced fine quality 100% top grain hides, from some of the oldest tanneries in the world, and opened a fully integrated manufacturing facility in California. Since then, another generation has taken the helm and Omnia has grown leaps and bounds. It actually does not say anything about where they get their hides today. Just where they got them 30 years ago. If you click on each of thier leathers there is absolutley no information provided about individual leathers. SoI would contact them directly and ask them. You may or may not get a response.

Omnia may be the perfect brand for you. But you will be getting a $2000.00 sofa, not a $3500.00 or $5500.00 sofa. Just go in with eyes wide open.

[APairAndaSpare]

Thanks for your reply, Sue. Everything you said makes sense. As for the how much we expect to pay for a power reclining sofa and reclining chair, we fully anticipate paying around $4,000 for the couch, give or take. And around $2,500 for the chair, also give or take. Heck, a local furniture store was selling Flexsteel and Leather Italia for more. I don’t mind paying bigger bucks for well made furniture from a reputable company, but not for low end stuff. And my husband said the $$$ doesn’t matter to him. That’s fine, but not for junk. And some of that means low quality foam in the cushions. I like firm HR foam.

I’ve been busy today and haven’t had time to read through the the thread Duane posted. That will be for after dinner. I know I’ll get a better understanding of all the leathers and the tanning process. Thanks so much again for your thoughtful post. The biggest reason I’d go with Omnia is for the full foot rest.

P.S. I just went to the thread link and it turns out I have read most of it previously. Lots of good information there! I think what it boils down to is hoping for some type of transparency from whomever is selling the recliners we like. Whether that happens probably depends who the dealer is.

Maybe by now you have read that thread and realize there are many assumptions in your questions that are not actually true. H&M does NOT use all hides from China. As Duane said you take your choice with H&M and can get hides from all over the world. They are from China, from Italy, from Brazil, from lots of places. They are painted, they are fully dyed, they are whatevery you want based on the leather YOU pick. There are no hides tanned in the US any more. I would also be very suprised if every hide in Omnia comes from the same place unless there simply are not that many choices. So you are making assumptions based on articles with inaccurate information. Where, by the way, did you get the information that Omnia does not use leather from China? I could not see that anywhere on their website and could not find anything about where each leather is sourced from, and they are NOT tanned in the US since there basically isn't any done here for any manufacturer. Even if they use European leathers ghat does not mean they don't also use Chinese leathers. H&M uses European leathers too. But not ALL of their leathers are from one place. I think honestly, as much as you WANT to believe it is the case, you are not going to get a well built sofa with a top quality European hide for 2000.00. So some of that information is clearly not accurate. How do I know? I did the same research about 2-3 years ago. An honest seller, which admittedly is hard to find at times, will find out for you where the leather you are considering sources from. If they say they can't, they know you won't like the answser. I honestly do not believe Omnia does not use any leathers from China. Their website does not say they source all leathers from Europe. They say "Over 30 years ago, they sourced fine quality 100% top grain hides, from some of the oldest tanneries in the world, and opened a fully integrated manufacturing facility in California. Since then, another generation has taken the helm and Omnia has grown leaps and bounds. It actually does not say anything about where they get their hides today. Just where they got them 30 years ago. If you click on each of thier leathers there is absolutley no information provided about individual leathers. SoI would contact them directly and ask them. You may or may not get a response.

Omnia may be the perfect brand for you. But you will be getting a $2000.00 sofa, not a $3500.00 or $5500.00 sofa. Just go in with eyes wide open.

[APairAndaSpare]

Sue, it’s funny you mentioned Omnia growing leaps and bounds from when it was just a small company. My own local guy said the same thing, and in fact, he said that he feels we’re hitting a sweet spot now before they grow even MORE. He said in 10 years time, who knows where they’ll be or if he’ll even be carrying it IF he doesn’t like what he sees. But for now, he feels good about selling me a power reclining sofa and recliner. I’m adding #35 extra firm HR 2.0 cushions and a Grade 3 aniline plus full grain leather. By the way, the two pieces together will be $7,890 (that’s with our 9% tax) and $55 white glove delivery. So even the power recliner is closer to 3k. Closer to 5k for the power reclining sofa.

I’ll include a description of my leather. I prefer aniline with an added top coat for a bit more protection, hence the “plus”. These will be our everyday/sometimes all day furniture. I might choose differently when we replace our stationery furniture in the living room. Doesn’t get as much use at all.

Maybe by now you have read that thread and realize there are many assumptions in your questions that are not actually true. H&M does NOT use all hides from China. As Duane said you take your choice with H&M and can get hides from all over the world. They are from China, from Italy, from Brazil, from lots of places. They are painted, they are fully dyed, they are whatevery you want based on the leather YOU pick. There are no hides tanned in the US any more. I would also be very suprised if every hide in Omnia comes from the same place unless there simply are not that many choices. So you are making assumptions based on articles with inaccurate information. Where, by the way, did you get the information that Omnia does not use leather from China? I could not see that anywhere on their website and could not find anything about where each leather is sourced from, and they are NOT tanned in the US since there basically isn't any done here for any manufacturer. Even if they use European leathers ghat does not mean they don't also use Chinese leathers. H&M uses European leathers too. But not ALL of their leathers are from one place. I think honestly, as much as you WANT to believe it is the case, you are not going to get a well built sofa with a top quality European hide for 2000.00. So some of that information is clearly not accurate. How do I know? I did the same research about 2-3 years ago. An honest seller, which admittedly is hard to find at times, will find out for you where the leather you are considering sources from. If they say they can't, they know you won't like the answser. I honestly do not believe Omnia does not use any leathers from China. Their website does not say they source all leathers from Europe. They say "Over 30 years ago, they sourced fine quality 100% top grain hides, from some of the oldest tanneries in the world, and opened a fully integrated manufacturing facility in California. Since then, another generation has taken the helm and Omnia has grown leaps and bounds. It actually does not say anything about where they get their hides today. Just where they got them 30 years ago. If you click on each of thier leathers there is absolutley no information provided about individual leathers. SoI would contact them directly and ask them. You may or may not get a response.

Omnia may be the perfect brand for you. But you will be getting a $2000.00 sofa, not a $3500.00 or $5500.00 sofa. Just go in with eyes wide open.

[APairAndaSpare]

Sue,

True, I had said you mentioned it, just as my furniture guy here did to me. He said he doesn’t work with anyone whose furniture is made in China. As for this particular Grade 3 “Eugene” leather, it specifies that it’s finished in Italy. In that case, I don’t know where it starts out. But China IS known for importing a lot of leather. I have no idea if it starts OUT being tanned in China and THEN finished in Italy or not. Or perhaps raised in China, as well? I will ask my dealer here. The actual furniture is made in Chino, CA.

As for leather being tanned in China, Duane, himself, said that it’s not a BAD thing, necessarily. Look at the high end brands here who do that. After I read his blurb about that, I felt better knowing that IF I chose leather tanned in China it wouldn’t be a deal breaker. That said, at this point, I’m thinking the cowhide I ordered comes from one of the countries who “grew” the cattle and finished in Italy. If it happens to make a stop over in China somewhere in between, so be it. Or maybe it IS produced there, as well. I’m more concerned about the actual sofa and recliner being made here.

Sue, it’s funny you mentioned Omnia growing leaps and bounds from when it was just a small company. My own local guy said the same thing, and in fact, he said that he feels we’re hitting a sweet spot now before they grow even MORE. He said in 10 years time, who knows where they’ll be or if he’ll even be carrying it IF he doesn’t like what he sees. But for now, he feels good about selling me a power reclining sofa and recliner. I’m adding #35 extra firm HR 2.0 cushions and a Grade 3 aniline plus full grain leather. By the way, the two pieces together will be $7,890 (that’s with our 9% tax) and $55 white glove delivery. So even the power recliner is closer to 3k. Closer to 5k for the power reclining sofa.

I’ll include a description of my leather. I prefer aniline with an added top coat for a bit more protection, hence the “plus”. These will be our everyday/sometimes all day furniture. I might choose differently when we replace our stationery furniture in the living room. Doesn’t get as much use at all.

[SueCT]

I would probably buy the H&M and put a pillow under my knees. But you do you.