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What is a leather match?  This is a question you might ask when you see that option available on leather furniture today and we thought we would set the record straight.  ‘Leather Match’ represents furniture that is made with both genuine pieces of leather on specific portions of the seating and a perfect synthetic match on other portions.  In general, genuine leather is used on all portions of the seating that your body will touch like the seat back, seat cushion, armrests, and footrests.  A perfect synthetic match is used on the lower exterior armrests and the exterior seat back (the portion that faces the wall).

100% Leather

The turquoise green shading on the different seating images shown below is an example of where the genuine leather is added to the seating.  You will notice it covers all portions that you might touch when you are seated and relaxing in your theater seating or leather recliner sofas.  The practice of using leather and a match is extremely common in the furniture world.  Most leather furniture today is made this way.  In the event that you wish for leather on all portions of the chair, that is called ‘full leather’.

Why use leather match vs full leather upholstery?  The cost is one big factor but not the only one.  Genuine leather throughout doubles the expense of the most costly component on your seating.  The portions of the seating where the match is used also tend to be wide large sections that would require more substantial pieces of leather.  The bigger the leather cuts the more costly too.  The sections of the furniture where the match is added tends to always be portions of the seating that is susceptible to scratches and scuffs, as well as dirt and dust.  Due to the fact that leather is so porous and is known to absorb its environment, you will notice that the dirt gets absorbed by the leather and it changes the quality, softness, durability, and overall appearance.

top grain leather label
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PU/PVC Leather Match

Polyurethane is composed of polyurethane, bicast, or ground leather and closely resembles natural leather.  It is soft and has the same overall feel as leather.  High-quality PU will adjust to body temperature and will remain cool even after long periods of physical contact.  Polyurethane is very resistant to scratches and stains and is easy to clean. All of the leather seating options available here offer a combination of real leather and polyurethane, bonded leather and polyurethane, or, real leather and PVC (polyvinylchloride).  Polyvinylchloride (sometimes called vinyl in furniture circles) resembles the softness, color, and feel of natural leather but contains no natural leather at all.  It is the most durable option and is very resistant to scratches and dirt, even compared to PU.

leather match leather
Leather-match-seats-back-2024

You will notice from the image above that the match is used on the exterior sides and back.  These regions of the furniture are the areas that are most susceptible to dirt and scratches.  Therefore we favor the use of the match in these areas for those exact reasons.  There are some brands that will also add the match to the footrest but that is not done by Octane Seating.