Premium Leathers - Characteristics & Descriptions
Learn about the finest leather available that is incorporated into leather Ekornes Stressless Recliners and Ekornes Furniture. Smooth, silky to the touch, durable and extremely comfortable- Common words used to describe the most stimulating leather options available on leather Stressless recliners and Ekornes furniture.
All our leather types and colors are deep-dyed. Some colors have been enhanced with a two-tone effect.
Color nuances are normal and to be expected. Leather absorbs moisture and breathes. Color changes
will occur with time, as a result of use and the effects of sunlight.
ABOUT LEATHER:
Leather is a beautiful, vibrant and durable upholstery material. The play of color in the leather and the
natural markings make each piece of furniture unique. Ekornes® buys upholstery leather from leading
tanneries throughout the world. Our hide selection process, overseen by our own inspectors, utilizes the
most stringent international quality control standards
Ekornes inspectors incorporate a rigorous selection process, which includes the most stringent international standards as a very minimum requirement for controlling the leather quality. Our customers constantly tell us that after owning a leather Stressless recliner or Ekornes leather furniture piece, no other leather will do (of course we feel the same way).
Ekornes hand selects its leather from the highest quality tanneries around the world. Because leather is a natural product, color nuances are normal and colors will vary slightly from one product to another (this only adds to the customized nature of owning a Stressless). Some Ekornes or Stressless colors are enhanced with a two-tone effect which makes the resulting leather even more beautiful.
Standard Factors for Ekornes® Leathers
- Top Grain selected from around the world
- Deep Dyed using a "Through-Pressing" method - to maintain integrity for years and years
- Protection- Durable and virtually maintenance free (Ekornes leather conditioner is all you'll need)
Common Attributes in All Ekornes® Leathers
- All Ekornes leather colors are through-dyed.
- Some colors have been enhanced with a two-tone effect (e.g. Chocolate Paloma).
- Some colors are shinier than others.
- Color nuances are normal and add to the recliner characteristics.
- Leather absorbs moisture and breathes. Treating your new Stressless Recliner or Ekornes furniture with the enclosed leather conditioner (included with your Stressless order) will keep your recliner safe from common stains and looking like new.
- Color changes will occur with time as a result of use and the effect of light or UV rays. As with most fine leather and fabrics, we advise folks to not position their leather furniture in direct sunlight if possible.
Ekornes® offers four types of leather- each in a full range of colors:
Noblesse
- Most Exclusive (and more expensive)
- Great Hand
- Natural appearance / Rich grain pattern
- Is thicker than Paloma
- Soft to the touch, with a warm glow
- A "taste of coating"
The heaviest and most exclusive Ekornes® leather type. Noblesse is an through-dyed, upholstery leather with a natural pebbled grain with visible natural marks. It is a full grain semi-aniline, which
means that it is dyed all the way through and has only a thin protective topcoat. This allows the leather
to keep the natural softness and lustre that characterises a first-class furniture leather. A natural
material like Noblesse retains its original grain and structure. Minor color nuances and skin blemishes
may also occur. Such individual details could lead to slight variations in different parts of the furniture
cover. Although the topcoat provides a measure of protection, Noblesse is the most delicate of the
leather qualities that Ekornes uses. It absorbs moisture easily, and is more vulnerable to wear and tear,
heat, sunlight, spills and perspiration. Regular maintenance is important to keep its attractive appearance. A very light surface treatment has been added for protection. Noblesse has a soft feel and a rich, warm glow. "Some customers tell us that this leather is so smooth that they can't believe that it's really leather."
Velaro (New for 2025)
A thick, full-bodied leather with an elegant grain and natural look. It is dyed through, with a natural
surface that is only slightly corrected and coated. A light embossing mitigates the grain variations on the
leather’s surface. However, all natural leathers have some grain structure variations, natural marks, and
color nuances, which should be expected also on Velaro. Although robust, this leather remains soft and
sumptuous to the touch. A thin topcoat protection provides Velaro with some resistance to staining and
simplifies cleaning, but Velaro does not have the same heavy-duty quality and durability as Batick.
Paloma
- Natural grain/Visible natural marks
- Soft, rich, friendly feel
- More protection
- Wide range of colors
Our most popular Ekornes leather (and our own favorite). Paloma is a through-dyed upholstery leather with a combination of dyes and pigments in the finish. Paloma has a natural grain pattern with visible natural marks. The light finishing treatment improves the physical properties and provides a more standard, uniform color. Paloma has been developed to produce a very soft, rich and friendly feel. Paloma is the preferred choice for those who want a soft, authentic look in leather that breathes well.
Batick
- Corrected, embossed and dyed
- Surface pigmented
- Uniform, durable surface
- Easily maintained
Batick is a corrected through-dyed, pigmented and grain-embossed upholstery leather, which has had most of its natural marks removed. The protective layer of lacquer allows spills to be easily removed. Easy to clean and priced well for budget-conscious relaxation-seekers, Batick is a popular choice for those who want a more resilient leather.
All of the fabulous leather grades offered will require attention and conditioning. This is because they pure, premium, top-grain leather. We strongly recommend using an approved Leather Conditioner anywhere from 1-5 times annually. This will keep the leather strong, moisturized, and young for years of use. Check out the links below to leather care/cleaning products and conditioners:
Leather Conditioners
1-2 Seats: Leather Care Conditioner by Hide Bracer 2oz bottle (approved for Stressless Seating)
2 or more Seats: Hide Bracer Leather Conditioner 8oz bottle (approved for Ekornes Stressless Furniture)
Leather Cleaning & Care Kits
1-2 Seats: Leather Care Kit Small (approved for all Stressless Furniture)
2 or more Seats: Leather Care Kit Large (approved for any Ekornes products)
Ekornes Leather Quality
Leather is a beautiful and vibrant upholstery material. Ekornes® buys upholstery leather from only the finest tanneries from all over the world. The leather selection process, overseen by Ekornes inspectors, implements the most stringent international quality control standards. Every piece of Stressless® and Ekornes® leather furniture reflects the distinguished and masterful Ekornes taste for the finest leathers available. This shows in the quality of all Stressless or Ekornes leather products, which far exceeds that typically found in the finest furniture stores worldwide.
The Unwind Company stocks tons of leather Stressless Recliners, Ekornes Furniture, and Accessories (in our own warehouses) for the Fastest Shipping to virtually Anywhere in the Continental United States!
*Stressless and Ekornes are trademarks of Ekornes ASA - Norway.
The Unwind Company and the Unwind Back and Body Stores are authorized Retailers of Beautiful Ekornes Stressless Furniture, Recliners, Chairs and Accessories.
Have questions or need additional information? Follow these links on our secure website: About Ekornes, Leather Care Info, Stressless Recliners, or Ekornes Furniture.
Please contact us at info@unwind.com or at 1-888-4-UNWIND (888-486-9463). We're always here to assist you with your Ekornes, Stressless Recliner, Ekornes Furniture or other Soothing Back or Body Product purchase.