Poltrona Frau: A fresh perspective on color.

Leather has been the DNA of Poltrona Frau since its founding in 1912. By focusing on artisan traditions and natural materials with exceptional tactile properties, the company has always paid special attention to the quality of raw materials and the technologies used in their processing. Its success in this path is confirmed by a special trademark - Pelle Frau®, which over time has gained the highest recognition - Leathership®, acknowledging the unique system consisting of 23 stages of leather processing employed by Poltrona Frau's factory. 

Furniture made from Poltrona Frau leather has earned a reputation, becoming a target for counterfeiters. However, replicating a production technology honed over more than a century is beyond the capabilities of anyone. Pelle Frau® is not just a product; it's genuine leather, a unique reality born in the Research and Development Center in Tolentino. All prototypes and materials undergo mandatory strength and durability testing in the Testing Laboratory. This is the only way to create an item that is perfect in every detail.

For the production of Pelle Frau®, the most valuable and durable material is used - the top layer of leather with a natural grain, which is only worked with by a few furniture companies in the world, and Poltrona Frau is among the best. In addition to its high quality and meticulous selection, the used bovine leather is a material that meets all the requirements of sustainable development, as it is a by-product of the food industry. The origin of the hides is from countries in Northern Europe and North America.

 

In 2020, the company introduced a new color system for leather, harmonizing with other materials, named ColorSphere® and designed to be a tool for interior design. It's a unique design map developed in collaboration with Giulio Ridolfo, a globally renowned colorist and textile designer. The new palette includes 26 best-selling colors from the previous system and 47 new shades. Poltrona Frau's experience and specialized research allowed for achieving a precise balance between the depth of color and the brightness of Pelle Frau® leather, creating combinations that will always harmonize in terms of tones and contrast.

The 73 ColorSphere® colors are divided into 7 main families, grouped in descending order of tones and semi-tones: Into the Black (grays and blacks), Milky Way (whites), Foundation (pale pinks and beiges), Tierras (earthy tones), Red Memories (reds), Winter Garden (blues and greens), and Back in Town (inspired by urban colors).

During the processing, which is divided into three main stages - cleansing, tanning, and finishing, leather acquires special visual and tactile properties, according to which individual collections are formed. Today, the Pelle Frau® catalog, including ColorSphere®, comprises 12 collections and 165 shades. 

The Pelle Frau® collections are divided into groups based on three types of leather - aniline, semi-aniline, and pigmented leather. 

Aniline leather is dyed with aniline dyes of natural origin without additional protection. It's a very delicate, soft material that isn't typically used for upholstering furniture items like dining chairs, office chairs, office cabinets, and tables: 

The Pelle Frau® Soul collection is inspired by the eponymous musical genre and evokes similar emotions. It possesses increased softness and a silky touch. The collection's palette includes 12 shades reminiscent of the colors of Italian landscapes. The thickness ranges from 1.2 to 1.4 mm.

Pelle Frau® Century is a very pleasant to the touch leather available in 12 different shades, known for its velvety texture. The coloring technique used is "stone washed." Thanks to a special tanning process, the leather has a more pronounced natural grain. The collection was developed in 2012 and is dedicated to the company's centennial anniversary.

 

The creation of Pelle Frau® Safari is linked to the Archibald Gran Comfort lounge armchair. Designer Jean-Marie Massaud envisioned a durable, thick leather with enhanced softness, capable of covering fairly large surfaces and creating smooth curves. Thus, Pelle Frau® Safari was born, made from Scandinavian bull hides in 6 shades inspired by the African savanna, with a thickness of 3-4 mm and a more pronounced grainy texture, wrinkles, and stretches, making each furniture item unique and distinct. It's also available for upholstering Massimosistema modular sofas.

Pelle Frau® Saddle Extra is a smooth, dense leather with a thickness of 2-4.25 mm, possessing necessary properties for shaping. It's another example from a collection born out of a designer's concept, specifically for the Ginger armchair and Fred writing desk by Roberto Lazzeroni, where leather serves as a shaping element rather than upholstery. It's available in 6 shades.

Pelle Frau® MyFrau is a unique collection of saddle leather in 6 deep dark shades with a light smoky effect. The dyeing process is entirely done by hand, and the tanning is carried out using tannins exclusively of vegetable origin. It's used for upholstering structural elements, particularly the backrest of the Mamy Blue armchair.

The Pelle Frau® Cavallino collection is leather with a short pile, available in 5 natural shades. 

 

Pelle Frau® Nubuck is a very soft, velvety leather with a smoky effect, developed for the Plexi Case accessory series. It's available in 1 shade.

Semi-aniline leather is dyed with aniline dyes and protected by a transparent coating:

The Pelle Frau® Heritage collection is a concentrate of traditional Poltrona Frau leather with a vintage effect, available in 6 warm shades, including the classic "bordeaux." It's a soft, lively material with a distinct aroma of natural leather. The transparent protection of oils and waxes enhances the depth of the natural texture.

Pelle Frau® Nest is a durable, incredibly soft, and silky leather available in 20 shades inspired by nature, with a special millepunte (thousand dots) finishing treatment that accentuates the grain of the leather. It's protected by a transparent water-based lacquer.

 

Pigmented leather is dyed with aniline dyes and protected by water-based lacquers and pigments. It's the most resistant type of leather to external factors:

 

Pelle Frau® Saddle is characterized by the perfect balance of elasticity, tactility, thickness (1.2-1.5 mm), and rigidity. It comes in a palette of 15 shades. This leather is used to cover furniture items such as the Fidelio Cabinet, Lloyd bookcase, Mr. Moonlight bed, and others.

The Pelle Frau® Saddle Executive collection features high-strength and elastic saddle leather in three basic shades: "bourbon," "havana," and "ink." Its durability and resistance make Saddle Executive indispensable for innovative lines such as the Trust series by the Lievore - Altherr - Park studio.

Pelle Frau® SC ǀ ColorSphere® is a new collection consisting of 73 shades with a protective layer matching the leather color. It's characterized by high durability, resistance to dirt, and unlimited usability across all Poltrona Frau lines.