Because leather hides vary in size and shape, designers should plan for 20–25% overage compared to fabric. This accounts for natural markings, irregular edges, and cutting waste, ensuring you have enough leather to complete your project.

Leather yield depends on hide size, cutting efficiency, and pattern shapes. Larger, uninterrupted panels require more overage, while projects with smaller cuts often have better yield. Our team can help estimate yield based on your specific design requirements.

A cutting for approval (CFA) is a small swatch taken from current stock to verify the color, texture, and finish before your full order ships. Since natural leather can vary slightly from lot to lot, CFAs ensure the leather matches your expectations.

No. All Keleen Leathers are PFAS-free and contain no added flame-retardant chemicals. This makes them a safe, sustainable choice for residential, hospitality, and commercial interiors.

Yes. Keleen Leathers offers KLADTM Leather Wall Tiles, a flexible, acoustic, flame-resistant system that uses your choice of leather to create striking wall installations. These tiles are cost-effective, easy to install, and can even be trimmed on-site for a perfect fit, with no special track systems or installers required. You can design floor-to-ceiling setups, custom shapes, and choose from any of their leathers, including hair-on hides.

Genuine leather is described as a durable, flexible fabric of natural origin, with a unique fibrous structure that outperforms man-made materials.

Faux leather, often made from PVC or PU-coated polyester or nylon, is synthetic, fossil-fuel derived, lacks natural qualities, and doesn’t degrade well.

Bonded leather or “vegan” alternatives may incorporate natural elements in the backing but still rely heavily on PU or PVC—and are thus not entirely natural.

Leather is considered sustainable because:

● It repurposes hides that would otherwise go to waste.

● It is biodegradable, unlike plastics that can take 500 years to decompose.

● Tanning produces useful by-products like soaps, gelatin, and fats.

● It is long-lasting, reducing the need for replacement compared to fabrics or vinyl.

Yes, some types of leather naturally change with age. For example, Keleen’s Ringlet vegetable-tanned leather wall tiles gradually darken through oxidation, developing a warm, saddle-like patina. This natural aging process is part of what makes leather beautiful and unique.

Leather is naturally more resistant to spills than fabric, and some leathers come with protected finishes for added durability. For example, Keleen’s Tough Textures collection features a highly durable protective finish that makes it suitable for high-traffic and heavy-use applications.

Leather outperforms synthetics in several ways:

● It lasts decades longer (a leather sofa can last 30 years, while faux leather may only last a few).

● It ages gracefully, developing patina, instead of cracking, peeling, or hardening.

● It provides better long-term value, as its durability outweighs the higher initial cost.