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[ForestMaven]

Hi, All: I have a leather sofa and easy chair. SO comfy. I need to replace them (cushions all flattened out, etc.) and see furniture ads for "bonded leather." Is this better or worse than plain old leather? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance. ~Adele

[ForestMaven]

Forgot to add: Bonded leather seems to be contrasted with "top grain leather" in ads, but I'm not sure if I'm getting that right. If I knew what I already have, I'd know what I'm looking for in the future.

[Kachina624]

In my experience "bonded leather" means faux leather. Well, not exactly...here's the definition.

"Bonded leather or reconstituted leather is a term used for a popular upholstery material, which uses natural leather leftovers that are bonded back into larger pieces. The base upon which the reconstituted leather is applied is a strong fiber, and the mix can have varying degrees of organic leather - between 100% to 60% while the rest is polyurethane. The larger hides have the appearance and the smell of organic leather, but at reduced cost and with less wastage compared to organic grown leather.[1] Bonded leather can be found in furniture, bookbinding, and various fashion accessories. Examples of products that are most commonly constructed with different varieties of "bonded leather" are: books, diaries, art books, desk accessories, bags, belts, chairs, and sofas. The actual leather content of bonded leather varies depending on the manufacturer and the quality level they are selling. In the home furnishings industry there is much debate and controversy over the ethics of using the term "bonded leather" to describe an upholstery product. Opinion in the leather industry says that calling a product "bonded leather" is "deceptive because it does not represent its true nature. It's a laminate or a composite, but it's not organic leather"

[lolakimono]

Bonded leather can have a lot of problems long term.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2012/08/bonded-leather-sofas-vs-genuine-leather-whats-the-diff...

[ForestMaven]

Thanks very much! so. .. bonded leather is out, for me. I'm sure I don't have that on my current leather furniture. One of the judge shows on TV had a woman who'd gotten it by mistake, with a rip already on it, and couldn't mend it, of course. The furniture store was held liable.

[faeriemoon]

It's kind of like leather Steak-ums.