PHONE (212)302-2332
UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCT
PLEASE NOTE – Lamb leather has a SMOOTH surface finish and appears 'grainy' due to magnification.
HIDE – The outer layer of an animal. Although the term ‘skin’ technically refers in our industry, to a smaller animal, we often use it in our operation for all materials. In this site we will refer to all as ‘hide’ or ‘material’.
LAMB HIDE – (also available in suede) Approximately 5.5 to 9 square feet in size. Soft and stretchy in feel (hand). Can retain its stretch (or return in the case of stretch leather) and is more delicate in nature than other hides. Sold by us in garment weight but can be ‘backed’ (reinforced on the flesh side to strengthen for other uses.)
COW HIDE - (also available in suede) Approximately 40 to 55 square feet. Can be soft or stiff in feel and tend to not be stretchy, although there are exceptions such as ‘pull-up’ leather. Sold in garment, upholstery and some thicker weights.
PIG SUEDE – Approximately 8 to 14 square feet. Garment weight. Strong, not stretchy and not very supple.
PLEASE NOTE - We cannot swatch the 'exotic' hides.
ALLIGATOR – Approximately 22 to 45 centimeters. Measurements come from the widest point of the center of the belly or back of the hide, depending on which side is used.
SNAKE – Measured by the linear yard. Can only be taken in limited quantities and thus, productions are always limited. One thing to consider is that the hide is thickest at the center and narrows progressively to each end. Python are the main hide sold here but there are others available..
FISH – Stingrays are the main hide sold. They measure approximately 20 inches in length by 10 inches in width. They can be larger in certain colors. The skin can be regular/natural with a round bumpy finish or buffed and smooth (top surface removed by cylindrical blade). Eel panels are 2 feet by 5 feet.
LIZARD – Ring lizards are the main hide sold and are 25 to 50 centimeters, measured at the widest center point.
OSTRICH - A large exotic tanned bird hide. Our operation offers the body (approximately 15 square feet) and the leg area.
ZEBRA - Hides are approximately 5 feet in width by 9 feet in length, head-to-tail. They can be felted (see pictures).
EXOTIC – Roughly speaking, all hides other than the traditional lamb, goat, pig and cow.
LEATHER – The hide of an animal which (in modern times) has been treated with approximately 10 or more different steps to preserve it in a ‘finished’ state.
SUEDE/NUBUCK – A hide which made to have a grainy surface by an abrasion process or by using the ‘flesh’ or ‘inner’ surface of the hide. The latter is basically the same except emphasis is placed on creating a ‘fine’ or ‘smooth’ finish, done on the ‘outer’ or ‘grain’ side of the hide.
HALF HIDE – The ‘side’ of a cow. An animal is separated into 2 equal halves from the bend, which is the region on the top of the back bone (along the spine). What you are left with is the flat side minus the legs and head.
MANUFACTURE OF A HIDE – In short, it begins with ‘preserving’ the hide with salt or chilling it, then commonly taking 7 additional steps, including stretching and adding oils for moisture, to prepare it for ‘tannage’.
HAIR-ON – The hide is not treated to remove the hair and therefore, it is still on it. The hair can be ‘natural’, meaning not trimmed at all or neatly trimmed and short in appearance and feel. We offer this in cow, calf, goat and lamb hides.
TANNAGE – The hide is ‘preserved’ and becomes leather or suede with no decay. There are 3 different types of tanning that are predominantly used with another 3 or more that are less common.
FINISHING – Directly before this, dye (color) is applied, and then oils. When leather or suede is in a ‘finished’ state, it has had a surface coating applied for protection from movement and contact as well as to lock in the permanence of color.
ANILINE – A transparent oily liquid dye that is applied to the hide by being immersed in it. This leaves all the natural markings of the hide.
SEMI-ANILINE – A secondary step in addition to aniline dying. The hides are then finished on the top or grain side. Spray pigments (color paints) are applied to the top. This process evens out the finish and removes natural imperfections in the hide.
HAND – This word generally describes ‘the feel’ of leather. Its softness, fullness or lack thereof. As I learned, the term should bring to mind an actual hand holding and ‘feeling’ the hide. This is the first thing I do when I am shown samples for possible purchase. With time, a person can become familiar with materials through this process. Not all should be soft. It all depends on the purpose.
ANTIQUED/DISTRESSED – A hide that is artificially finished to create signs of ‘natural’ aging and wear.
PULL-UP – An aniline-dyed leather that is waxed or oiled and appears so. When pulled, the waxes and oils applied cause the colors to lighten in the stretched areas. The desired effect is the appearance of high quality leather that is naturally aging.
SQUARE FEET – The measurement of a hide. This is stamped on the hides after they are finished before they leave the tannery. Imagine 12 inch by 12 inch squares within the hide. Due to the nature of the material, it is not a perfect science but is done to the best of a tanner's ability with a computer-generated scan and measurement. With leather, one must accept ‘waste’ or material that will be in excess of the desired with regard to whatever may be the pattern. When one is using a traditional 54” roll of fabric, the best determination would be that this would equal 18 square feet of leather.
MONGOLIAN LAMB – A long somewhat wavy-haired hide that is sold in 2 by 4 foot stitched plates.
MATTE FINISH – The hide has a dry, dull or flat appearance to it.
PATENT – A process of finishing leather or suede with a high-gloss laminate, which makes it appear shiny (almost like plastic or glass).
METALLIC – A process of finishing leather or suede which gives the hide a shiny ‘metal-like’ appearance. It can be dull, cracked and spaced apart or extremely shiny and solid.
PEARLIZED – A process of finishing leather which gives the hide the appearance of an ‘iridescence’. It gets its name from appearing to have the luster of a pearl.
TRIM (LACING/CORDING) – Leather that has been cut into precise strips and attached in a manner to create a continuous string of leather that we measure by the yard. Its width is measured in inches and fractions thereof.
WEIGHT – How leather is measured, in terms of its thickness. This is done with a specific device for this purpose, which presses the leather between two pieces of metal. While a gauge reads where the metal ends stop, it offers the ounces of the leather and also offers the measurement in millimeters simultaneously.
STORE TERMS AND FURTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION
These are terms in addition to the above, that I prefer to use in describing our products. They will allow us to further understand your needs and minimize error and wasted time for both parties.
We use the term ‘approximately’ often. This is not to sound vague. It is because we are trying to gauge precise measurements using an imprecise material. We do our best. As previously stated, you will have to accept a loss factor (material that will be left over) after the patterns are cut. This goes for a couch just as it goes for a skirt. The key here is to go slightly above (greater in size) to your pattern.
As previously stated, skins and hides are interchangeable to us, despite what the industry says. Please use either term to describe a full or half of the product we sell.
A bundle of leather describes a group of skins rolled together. They are commonly grouped into 12 hides. The sizes vary within these bundles regardless of the type of product. This is simply due to the variation of the size of the animals. The variance will always be there. Although one can request certain size hides. (Ex – no smaller than or the smallest hides in the bundle or total inventory).
We are a ‘distributor’ of leather and suede goods. This means that we do not create anything. We purchase goods from various suppliers who represent various tanneries all over the world. This has tremendous benefits. Most important of those are that we can pick and choose the best goods that each tannery has to offer and combine them under one roof, to present in a simple, straightforward manner. We take all of the risk and control the process so actual ‘quality’ goods are all that is presented to the customer. To create these goods is a craft. To truly understand their quality and choose accordingly is a skill.
Leather Impact has never had a minimum to purchase. What this means is IF the item of interest is in stock, you can order a single hide or in the case of items measured by yard, one yard. For all other items, there is commonly a brief period of time between an order and its arrival. This is contingent upon the item and many factors which will be simply explained once it has been chosen. With ‘special orders’ please inquire about minimums if need be. MANY items can be ordered in custom ways (colors, textures, thicknesses) with generally small quantities.
FAQ SECTION
Q: Can anyone purchase materials from your company?
A: YES, we are a wholesale and retail operation. We accept all major credit cards, money orders and checks. In the event of payment by check, materials purchased must be held for several days in order to verify sufficient funds.
Q: What do you do, do you sell finished goods?
A: We are a privately-owned distributor of high-end leather, suede and related materials. We do not tan hides or sell items made from them. We do not represent one single tannery or supplier. Our strength comes from selling superior quality hides from various suppliers representing international tanneries and finishing factories. They are selected for particular items that we feel, they excel at producing and we showcase and sell those items, referred to as ‘articles.’
Q: Why do I need you, why can’t I just find suppliers and buy direct?
A: As I state elsewhere in this site and I will repeat, so long as I am selling these goods, finished hides are a craft to produce, with specific skills involved, resulting in a poor or superior finished product. To identify quality with regard to such materials, is also a skill. There are many complex variables involved in knowing what the proper material for the destined use is. I would urge everyone using such materials, to consult and secure them through a company such as mine (we have been doing this for decades), to eliminate the risk and get what you truly want and need. What is the point of ‘getting it for less’ when you do not get what you want? There are many trying to unload poor goods that they have acquired in mass quantities. Please allow us to eliminate that possibility.
Q: Where is your price list?
A: There are several factors that contributed to working without one. The main ones are that purchases can be affected by quantity, in terms of discounts. We have always been flexible and willing to reward repeat shoppers and substantial purchases with savings. Also, we are of a strong belief that our materials are not finite goods and therefore should not be purchased by comparison shopping, with limited ability to truly compare such materials. Simply email or call us with regard to any item and we will provide a price when requested.
Q: Can I buy items without contacting anyone? Why are you not set up for ecommerce transactions?
A: It would be nice, but after much thought, we have decided for now, to continue taking orders by phone. The most obvious reason is better explained elsewhere in this site. Many leather items cannot be ordered ‘to the exact yard’ like fabrics. Also, it will greatly reduce incorrect material orders if customers at least have a brief consultation before actually purchasing these types of items. It is also a way to keep things personal. Again, we are a private business and highly regard our relationships with our customers. You can provide all order information except payment type. You can ask as many questions as need be, by email or phone. You can provide a contact number and we will call you. The phone conversation can be very brief so long as all other information is provided in advance. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to hearing from you.
Q: Why are some items more than others, with regard to price, when they look similar?
A: As a general rule, the more processes done to a hide, the more it will cost. Each process involves more materials with regard to input and more actual work and time involved. Adversely, some hides are minimally finished, giving them a soft ‘naked’ ‘hand’ or feel. When this occurs, all imperfections of that hide are visible and therefore hides with very minimal damage must be presorted in the initial stages and designated for this tanning method and finish. This creates a higher price due to the process of hand-selecting these hides and to the fact that they are naturally ‘blemish free’. Please keep in mind that while the soft feel is nice, these hides are therefore more porous due to lack of finish and therefore, more susceptible to wear and other damage.
Q: How have you arrived at your prices for your particular goods carried?
A: All hides are NOT created equal. Again, the processes, from selection to finished goods, are truly a craft and as such, can be done in a poor or excellent manner. We turn down more suppliers than we work with and feel we only distribute top quality materials, that are priced accordingly. Although many of the goods are European and we are purchasing them with U.S. dollars, we are doing our best to offer fair pricing.
Q: Can I get a brochure or catalog of your goods?
A: Our inventory is extremely large. We are receiving new and exciting items on a weekly basis. Although, many materials are available at all times, some are changing with the times and trends. It is more accurate to request swatches, which we provide, FREE of charge, so long as the request for such is clear and specific. (Use the terminology and online swatches provided, to create your request.)
Q: Is there a minimum to purchase your materials…can I buy just one hide?
A: YES, if the item is in our stock, in our New York City showroom, we will gladly sell you one hide or one yard, in the case of trim. That is our minimum. We cannot cut hides and sell portions thereof. Many other items can be purchased in small amounts even if they have to be obtained by us. If the item requested is not in stock, feel free to ask what the minimum quantity and time frame are.
Q: Are all of your items for sale, displayed on your web site?
A: NO. If we put all of the items that we sell on the site, it would do more harm than good. We made the decision to provide an accurate and positive introduction to our goods for sale that is clear and easy to navigate through, in an online store. We also create custom items. Not only can small amounts be ordered outside of our stock, many items can be referenced from our online swatches, and requested in alternate colors and finishes, being delivered in relatively short periods of time. Suede, hair hides, patents, perforations and other items can be done. If we don’t have it, we can most likely get it quickly. Please just ask for ANY type of hide. We have a tremendous network of suppliers and so long as it is legal to obtain, we will make every attempt to get it for you.
Q: Can I return an item?
A: Items can be returned for store credit, if we are contacted within 3 business days of receiving the item. In extreme circumstances of misunderstanding or damage, we can provide a refund once our goods are returned for inspection. Shipping will only be refunded if the item is damaged or faulty. Please take your time viewing our web site and ask as many questions as necessary, to minimize misunderstandings, resulting in incorrect purchases.
Q: Do you have an actual store I can visit?
A: YES, we have a 3,000 square foot showroom on the ground floor of 256 West 38th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue, in the Midtown South area of New York City. Please visit us Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 5 PM. If there is a question regarding holiday openings, please contact us beforehand for possible closures.
Q: Can I get answers to questions outside of the business hours?
A: YES, this is a private business and to the best of our ability, we rarely stop working. Although, we can only ship goods out of our location on the above business days, up until 3 PM eastern standard time. An order can be requested with an email during off-hours, so that it is attended to immediately, the morning of the next business day and therefore the process will likely move quicker. This also allows time for common back and forth communication, to come to the proper final purchase.
Q: How do I know what size everything is and how much I need for a particular job?
A: Hides are a natural product and as such, flexibility and approximations must be used to get the proper amount of material for any particular requirement. I would always suggest ‘rounding up’ a total square footage requirement. People often think we are trying to ‘over sell’ them. There will always be some waste with hides and the slightly larger size will ‘cover’ the job, whatever it may be. Know your pattern or dimensions by inches or feet and then leave the rest to us. We will suggest the proper hides and sizes with regard to those figures. Most hides are measured in square footage. As an example, The average full cow hide has an ‘overall’ dimension of a little more than 5 feet in width by 6 feet in length. The measurement on any other hide can be requested with an email.
| 
