Local Manufacturing with Global Success: American Leather is Ahead of the Curve

It’s becoming nearly impossible to go a day without hearing chatter about the lack of jobs in this country, but one thing we’re not hearing enough of is the resurgence of manufacturing in the United States. According to Hal Sirkin, a senior partner and managing director at the Boston Consulting Group, manufacturing in the United States is making a comeback.  As Sirkin states, America is becoming incredibly productive and using its resources very efficiently. “That's what's going to cause the change as we start to move from off shore in China to in-sourcing around the world,” he said.

American Leather - Dallas, Texas

But one company doesn’t have to make the shift from outsourcing to in-sourcing. American Leather furniture has always been manufacturing on U.S. soil, even when its competitors found cheaper labor and facilities overseas. “We built our brand on customization, style and service and are thrilled that more American companies have begun to see the importance – and financial benefits – of staying on home turf,” said Bob Duncan, American Leather co-founder and CEO.

Sirkin agrees, noting that manufacturing jobs in the U.S. have actually increased by 300,000 in the last two years. “It's now becoming more effective to produce in the U.S. than it is to produce in a lot of different countries. Between the shift in the dollar and the incredibly rapid rise in wages in China, people are starting to do this,” he said in an article penned by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He added, “We have a system where our people want to work and they find ways to do this. We have a system in which our companies are forced to get more productive because it's do or die.”


One of the factors causing this shift is the rising cost of transportation of labor and goods overseas. It’s also important to note the difficulty to manufacture goods when you're 6,000 miles away from your customers and have to interact with people who don't speak your native language.

American Leather's factory operations

Since 1990, American Leather has been housed in a factory in Dallas. In just 30 days or less, American Leather is able to make customized furniture – in leather and fabric – which is a delivery standard three times faster than the industry average. From the beginning, the factory was set up to manage mass customization through the latest technology and manufacturing systems, making American Leather the most automated leather furniture manufacturer in North America, and possibly, the world.


Sirkin says the furniture business is an industry that could benefit the most from this manufacturing renaissance because of the amount of wood produced in the U.S. “People are putting their money down, making some very important decisions and realizing that the U.S. has a very highly productive work force, a very flexible work force and the ability to be a very low-cost manufacturing platform for some very important industries,” he said.


And American Leather has been leading the march for more than 21 years! 

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Liven up the Living Room with Pantone’s 2012 Spring Palette

Gone are the days of the monochromatic color schemes, and in its place stands a collection of fresh, vibrant spring shades ready to melt away those winter blues. And American Leather is embracing these trendy tints in everything from their leathers to fabrics to Ultrasuede.  

According to Pantone, the Bible of color trends, Spring 2012 designs will showcase a range of styles and lifestyles, from free and playful and light and breezy, to contemporary classics. Colors reflect these differing moods, “encapsulating vivid brights, soft muted tones and fun-loving pastels.”  

Among the highlighted hues this season are:

Tangerine Tango, an enticing shade of juicy orange

Solar Power, an energetic yellow which radiates warmth and cheer
Bellflower, a distinct ornamental purple which exudes uniqueness and creativity

Cabaret, scintillating and sexy, is a sensual and intense rosy-red
Sodalite Blue, a classic maritime hue, brings order and calmness to mind
Cockatoo, a tactile blue-green, is sure to make spirits soar
Margarita, a piquant yellow-green, lifts spirits with its refreshing and stimulating glow

Sweet Lilac, a delicate pinkish lilac adds a touch of romance to any room

Natural versatile neutrals round out the season’s Top 10 colors and add practicality to these dazzling tones:

Driftwood, an adaptable blend of beige and gray with a slightly weathered feel, and

Starfish, a perfect warm summer neutral.

If you’re unsure how to blend these vivacious colors into an already established room, start small. For example, an area rug in Margarita or Sweet Lilac and a vase in Cockatoo can invoke the feeling of spring without overwhelming a room. Or try incorporating accent pillows in Sodalite Blue and Solar Power to a lightly colored neutral sofa, such as the Moore sofa in Vintage Flax linen, to bring some blue-sky and sunshine in from the outside.  

There is an infinite number of ways to design a room with this diverse palette. So spring into action this year and get started!

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Why Leather – What is Good Leather?

The single most important factor in determining the quality of leather is the raw material, the hide. This is the same principle that you will find in cooking; the recipe is only as good as the ingredients.

The term “hide” refers to the skin covering of large animals; cows, steers, buffalo, etc. Most hides used in the manufacturing of upholstery are cow or steer hides. Upholstery requires large hides to minimize the number of seams. Less than ten percent of all hides harvested each year are suitable for upholstery. This is due to the size of unblemished pieces required to make upholstery. The balance of the hides are used for the garment industry. 

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Finding Environmentally Friendly Furniture – the Basics

Ah summertime…the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and everyone is outside playing. This season really makes us appreciate all Mother Nature has to offer us, and we want to make sure we do everything we can to keep our Earth healthy. There are so many manufacturers promising green, sustainable, eco-friendly products for your home. All of these terms suggest some level of environmental responsibility, but there are no concrete definitions for them yet.  If you are in the market for eco-friendly furniture and other home goods, you need to know what to look for so you know you are not being deceived.

Search for a product or manufacturer that is certified by a coalition promoting sustainable practices, like the Sustainable Furnishings Council

The goals of this council are to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability, help companies adopt eco-friendly practices, clear up false information in the industry, and assure customers that they are supporting companies that operate sustainably. As a founding member of the council, American Leather produces custom leather and fabric-covered furniture that meets the standards established by SFC. 

Environmentally-secured leather

Modern tanneries use closed-water systems and private water treatment plants to prevent the pollution of surrounding water supplies.  At American Leather, the dying process involves water-based products that are chrome-free and completely chemical free.  This prevents more toxic materials from entering your home and ultimately the atmosphere. Leather scraps are also recycled in producing small leather goods.

Pay attention to the furniture frame

Wood from American Leather comes from sustainable forests, and over two million pounds of leftover wood is recycled.  The glues used to bind the wood are chemical-free and do not release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Recyclable Cushions

High-resiliency foam that is 100 percent free of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs,) helps to prevent ozone depletion.  Plus, when your sofa reaches the end of its lifetime, the cushions from American Leather furniture are recyclable.

Clearly, every part of the furniture needs to come from proper sources and be manufactured in the right way to be certified by the Sustainable Furnishings Council.  If environmentally friendly practices are important to you, you can find American Leather and other environmentally friendly manufacturers through the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

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Our Top 5 Online Home Design Tools

Anyone who has ever embarked on a home decorating project knows just how daunting it can be. With endless options available in color schemes, furniture choices and accessories, the ability to see the vision before spending money is priceless. Luckily, there are tons of handy online tools available to help even the novice decorator plan their project in advance. Here are five of our favorite online decorating tools.

Color Palette Generator (http://jrm.cc/color-palette-generator)

Is your entire artistic vision for your design captured in one image? This online tool allows you to upload a photo – your own or from the web – and develop a color palette straight from it. This is a simple way to use a favorite photo as a focal point for a room and match color schemes seamlessly.

Colorjive (www.colorjive.com)

If only shopping for paint was as easy as shopping for jeans. Ever wish you could just try it on? This online decorating tool allows the user to upload a photo of the room they plan to decorate and test shades on the walls without ever lifting a paint brush. Use a stock room just to get an idea or upload your own photo for test run. You can try up to three colors per room and store your images for later.

Sample Board (www.sampleboard.com)



Sometimes you just need a place to keep all of your ideas. Sample Board is an easy-to-use program allowing you to create interior design inspiration boards. It gives a wide variety of stock images, textures and color palettes to drag and drop onto your board and then share on Facebook and Twitter for free. Whether it’s a great chair you saw online or fabric you love, compile your images into one spot that illustrates your vision. Upgrade to a paid membership and you can import your own images, create as many boards as you like and print them in high resolution.

My Deco 3D (www.mydeco.com)

Sometimes you need to see it in 3D. This tool lets you start with a flat floorplan, move your furniture in and then watch your room come to life. For inspiration, check out the site’s online community where users share ideas and their own 3D models. An added bonus: camera view lets you view the room from multiple point of views.

3Dream (www.3dream.net)

This online decorating tool allows users to create a 3D room and then decorate it using furniture, paints and accessories. The program has a huge collection of virtual furniture to add that you can buy offline, too, including American Leather pieces.


Home decorating online is a wise choice before embarking on an expensive journey that may not work in your space. By using these tools, home decorators can save money and time by doing most of the legwork right from the comfort of their own home.

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Quick Ways to Makeover Your Room

You don’t have to spend hours redecorating a room that has become dull. One new addition or simple re purposing can give your space a face lift without a complete makeover.

Update window treatments. Replacing heavy or dark draperies will change the perspective of your whole room. Opt for sheers to bring in more light for an airy feel, or panels for a modern, bolder look.

Add a surprising color. One of the simplest and least expensive ways to spruce up a room is to add splashes of color. To really mix it up, think outside the box. A coral, lime or fuchsia piece adds a surprising and refreshing element. Just make sure to stick to accessories or an accent chair to keep it from becoming overpowering.

For a more conservative approach, varied patterns and textures can be mixed with solid furniture to inject some life back into a room with minimal cost.

Mix up your flooring. Try a new rug in a different color, texture or size to brighten up a room in one easy step.

Go for a clustered effect. Sick of staring at that lonesome piece of artwork hanging in the middle of your wall? Update your wall decor by grouping several smaller pieces to fill more space and add more visual interest.

Adjust your lighting. Add a new table or floor lamp or simply update a lampshade or a light source. Changing to a softer or brighter light will change the feel of a space and it may also change the hue of your room’s color palette.

Add visual interest with mirrors. Mirrors add depth and richness to a room. Use several small mirrors rather than one large to give a room even more dimension.

Switch out your centerpieces. Group objects of one color together to add a monochromatic touch to a neutral space. Replace a coffee or end table with an ottoman with a flat top that can double as a table.

Use glass vases, wicker baskets or other containers and fill them with fresh fruits or vegetables. Using natural items to decorate with color is easy and simple.

Sprucing up a tired room is often as easy as switching out a few staples. Simply adding splashes of color, new lamps or switching out a table for an ottoman are easy and inexpensive ways to bring life back to your space.

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Leather Furniture Care: The Whole Truth (and Nothing But)

If you’re like most consumers, when it comes to shopping for new home furnishings, there may be some lingering doubts about what furniture is best for you and your home. And if you are like many furniture buyers, you may be unsure if leather furniture is right for your home, or even how to find the leather that best fits your décor and lifestyle.

To help consumers in this buying process, American Leather, a leading Dallas-based manufacturer of premium leather and upholstered furniture, has addressed the most common myths and misperceptions about leather furniture – and the real truths that will have consumers making their next purchase in complete confidence:

Myth: Leather furniture just doesn’t last.

Fact: The truth is, leather furniture is something you buy for a lifetime. Since leather is a natural product, aging brings out its natural patina making it even more beautiful over time. And since leather furniture is something you can enjoy for years to come, this is a purchase that makes a sound investment –– and one that gives you excellent returns, time and time again.

Myth: Leather furniture is too expensive.

Fact: You don’t have to be rich to enjoy leather furniture – just smart. Since leather is a product that lasts four times longer than fabric, leather furniture is a great investment for your home that you can enjoy for many years to come. After all, don’t you deserve beautiful comfort that lasts?

Myth: Leather furniture is too hard to care for.

Fact: This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Just use a conditioner every 6-12 months and wipe up spills as they occur with a clean cloth. You should actually avoid using your normal cleaning supplies—like soaps, detergents, solvents, etc. Can it get any easier than that?

Myth: Leather furniture is easily damaged by kids and animals.

Fact: Unless your dog thinks your new leather couch is a chew toy or your cat thinks it’s a scratching post, your leather furniture is as safe as any other furniture in the house. For more peace of mind, buy furniture with a pigmented finish coat. It helps protect the leather so you can let your pets and your kids sit on the couch with no more than the usual worries.

Myth: Leather furniture is limited in where it can go in the house.

Fact: Even though leather furniture is traditionally seen in living rooms, dens and family rooms, don’t let that hold you back. Surprise your friends with the versatility of leather furniture. Use it in unexpected places like your kitchen or bedroom for a look that is super stylish and trendsetting as well.

Myth: Leather furniture is either too cold in winter and/or too hot in summer.

Fact: You must be thinking about those leather seats in your car. Of course they get hot in summer and cold in winter, especially if you park outside. But if you keep your leather furniture indoors like most folks (trendsetters beware!), you’ll find that in the winter, it warms to your body heat, and in the summer since it’s natural and can breathe, it stays pleasantly cool, and even adapts to the temperature set in your home. Just keep it out of the direct sunlight.

For more information on leather furniture and leather furniture care and cleaning tips, visit American Leather’s web site at http://www.americanleather.com.

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