Originally Posted by
envirochick
Boy, I have a lot of questions. I apologize in advance for my continuous hunt for H&M information.
Fire away! That's what the forum is here for!
Well, maybe we need to rethink the Document leather (even though hubby likes it a lot coupled with the September sofa). I thought I had read on a gardenwebforum post that H&M did everything in US. I didn't know they used and/or processed leather in China any longer. Are many of the other hides from China? Most of them in the T&C textures?
Like I said, Document is one of the mainstay hides for H&M. Certainly you would be in good company as there are hundreds of pieces in Document sold every week at H&M (average output there is 300 pieces per day). Choosing leather is like drinking wine. When you first drink wine you tend to go with sweeter generics, such as a Pink Chablis or pehaps a Rhine wine. That would be Document. As your tastes evolve and you become more discriminating in your palete, you move from the generic wines to varietals, such as a Chein Blanc or a Merlot. Then when your taste is fully developed you treat yourself to a fine Chadonnay or a Cabernet Savignon. Leather is just like that. As you move to the finer categories, you have to pay more, just as in wine.
All leather houses have hides from China these days. The market (thats you, the consumer!) demands it. You want a certain quality, and yet rebel at a certain price point. So the manufacturer is forced to try to service that price point yet still keep the quality in the piece. H&M does that by sourcing hides from China for the promotional groups, and the hides are decent. Tanning leather is labor intensive, and also ecologically a nightmare. China can provide the cheap leather and does not have an EPA overlooking their tanneries, the end result is less expensive leather.
As an example, I can take something like an Austin Sofa in Cavalier (also a Chinese hide) and it will price out at around $ 2,600 or so (exact price is on the spreadsheet). By doing nothing more than putting Capri, Grade IV leather on it (German) we're going to make tha sofa $ 4,600 or so. That's a $ 2,000 upgrade on the exact same frame, foam, cushions, etc. Its significant, and really depends on customer income, willingness to spend, etc.
A leather like Kipling is mixed. The tannery that supplies Kipling is in Italy, but they have opened a facility in China as well. Some of the Kipling comes out of Italy, another batch may come out of China. So it can be confusing.
H&M has a made in China line of leather furniture that is sold under the trademark name of Randall Allen which I do not carry. Anything that is labeled 'Hancock and Moore' is made in the USA, though it may have a Chinese hide on it if thats' what you select.
I'm looking at three Document colors at this moment: Copper, Bronze and Honey (you can definitely see what shade we lean towards). The honey sample looks quite varied compared to the others, it almost looks likes it would be called something different entirely. It looks more natural. The others look fairly uniform. When you speak of the two tone or tri-tone shading, are you referring to what looks to be a darker "top pigment" on the hide? Since I'm at such a loss with my local store not having these colors on a piece of furniture, can you tell me if the overall effect looks mottled? Is that why it's rated as Special Effects = 4? Do they have to put extra time into it because it is not a nice hide otherwise? You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the three colors I mention on pieces of furniture, or could you direct me to a pic on the H&M website perhaps? I do know the colors will not be the same as in person, but thought I could get an idea of the effect. I did see a chair in Hand-Antiqued Saddle and that is an effect I'm not fond of and am hoping these Document colors don't have a similar "black shoe polish" effect.
I'll get some photos when I get back in the store on Monday and post them here to show you what Document looks like.
Going to the next question: My local store has a ring of hides marked T&C. Then they have other rings separated by class of hide. The class II ring has many Cavalier, Berkshire, Document hides that are not included on the T&C ring. When you quoted prices on your spreadsheet and gave a price for non-married cover, was that only for certain hide colors in a particular texture or did it truly mean all the Cavaliers, Berkshires, Documents etc...?
This is where it all gets confusing. I'll try to explain.
Married Cover means the leather is sourced and cut and sewn at the point of origin of the leather. So the cover for that particular frame arrives at H&M in a 'kit' form in a box. When they get an order, then they build the frame, foam it, pull the kit out and compete the job. Your best price will always be in Married Cover, though obviously matching one piece to another is not as easy to do. Typically there are not many color choices in Married Cover as they would have a lot of kits to stock if there were.
Non-Married Cover means that hide is NOT in a Kit Form, but resides at H&M in NC as a loose hide. It will be cut and sewn in Hickory NC.
Okay, so the September certainly looks like it's built for comfort, but is the Metro not good for lounging at all? Even with some nice throw pillows against the arms? I figured because of the loose back cushions it would be more comfortable than say, Restoration. It's the only transitional we could agree on. I have narrow room dimensions and am trying to gt the most inside width for the least outside width. Metro is a good candidate. However, the room is for living in and needs to be comfy most of all. If it was my decision alone it'd be the Donovan in Kipling Whiskey. The Sloane I sat on was, to me and for a tufted back, suprisingly comfy. I could've read the Sunday paper easily in a supine position on it. I guess the point is that it seems in line with H&M to built a stylish sofa that is still comfortable. I was hoping that included Metro. Darn, I wish the closest city wasn't 4 hours away. Even then there's no guarantee they'll have the models I'm looking for.
Not necessarily. The Metro is comfortable, but built more towards an emphasis on style. What I find comfortable and what you find comfy may be worlds apart as well. A lot depends on not only lifestyle, but body type as well. Truth be told I have not come across a single H&M sofa I would label as 'uncomfortable' though I certainly have in some other brands.
I have a Cabo in the store in Kipling Whiskey, which is really close in form to the Donovan. I'l photo that tomorrow as well and post it here.
And last, could you price out September, Metro and Kodiak in the Kipling Whiskey?
Will do on Monday.
Thank you.
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