If you’ve been searching for some new furniture, you may have heard of Steelcase.
Although Steelcase is now known for everything from architecture to technology, they began as a furniture company and continue to be known for their quality furniture.
As a large, well-established company, Steelcase provides its customers with a wide range of options for customization.
One of the ways they do this is by providing several types of upholstery textile, including leather.
Although Steelcase’s chairs seem highly comfortable, you have to wonder: how do they hold up when you choose leather as your upholstery textile?
Do they become too hot, or does the leather peel off after a few months?
We’ve found that Steelcase does use real, whole-hide leather.
Unlike cheap bonded leather, whole hide leather will last long and never peel.
Steelcase leather is less breathable than fabric and can wrinkle over time.
However, it is also easier to clean, and it feels and looks luxurious.
Table of Contents
Does Steelcase use real leather?
Yes, Steelcase uses real leather for its leather furniture upholstery.
As of 2021, Steelcase has eight different kinds of 100% leather available, including Chiaro, Elmorustical, Elmosoft, Elmotique, Mont Blanc, Steelcase Leather, Terra, and Turnstone Leather.
However, not all Steelcase furniture has leather upholstery as an option, and there are .
Except for Turnstone Leather, all Steelcase leather textiles are available in multiple Steelcase product lines, including the following:
- Crew
- Jersey
- i2i Lounge Chair
- SILQ Sewn
- Cobi Sewn
- Steelcase Series 1
- Series 2 Uph Seat
- Leap
- Think
- Amia
Chiaro is dyed using aniline in Italy and is available in 19 colors. It comes with a warranty of one year.
Elmorustical is piece-dyed in Sweden and is available in 21 colors. It can be cleaned with water-based and solvent-based cleaners and comes with a warranty of five years.
Elmosoft is piece-dyed in Sweden and is available in 41 colors. It comes with a warranty of 12 years.
Elmotique is piece-dyed in Sweden and is available in five colors. It is Oeko-Tex certified and made of recycled materials. It can be cleaned with water-based and solvent-based cleaners and comes with a warranty of five years.
Mont Blanc is dyed using aniline in Italy and is available in 51 colors. It comes with a warranty of 10 years.
Steelcase Leather is piece-dyed in the United States and is available in four colors. It comes with a warranty of 12 years.
Terra is dyed using aniline and olive leaves in Spain, and it is available in nine colors. It is made of recycled content and comes with a warranty of 10 years.
Turnstone Leather comes in two colors, but it is only available for the Lincoln Lounge product line.
What type of leather does Steelcase use?
Steelcase uses whole hide leather.
Whole hide leather means that the textile is made out of the entire hide, and it is not pieced together from leftover leather.
Because of this, whole hide leather is able to last for decades as long as it is maintained properly. It will not peel, and it can hold up to regular cleaning.
Steelcase whole hide leather is dyed using various processes, depending on the type of leather and where it is manufactured. The two most common dyeing processes are aniline and piece dyed, and most of Steelcase’s leather is produced in Sweden, Italy, the United States, or Spain.
In comparison, the leather you see on cheaper office chairs is typically bonded leather.
Bonded leather is made from around 10% to 20% of scraps of genuine leather and 80% to 90% of faux leather. These scraps are then combined using polyurethane, then bonded onto a paper backing using an adhesive.
Bonded leather is much more affordable than genuine leather, which is why it’s become a popular choice.
However, it has several cons that lower its durability and convenience:
- Because it is not 100% leather, bonded leather peels, scratches, and flakes, unlike genuine leather. This decreases its lifespan.
- It is harder to clean because of how thin the layer of real leather is. If you use a cleaner that is too abrasive, you might strip away the leather.
- If you use it long enough, the bonded leather will begin to release the chemicals that were used to bond it.
- Its color will quickly fade if put in constant, direct sunlight.
So, although whole hide leather is significantly more expensive than bonded leather, it is well worth the investment, especially for a piece of furniture that will be with you for years.
How good is the leather on the Steelcase chairs?
Steelcase leather is 100% whole-hide leather, so it is of extremely high quality.
Admittedly, there are some cons to using leather for your Steelcase furniture.
For instance, Steelcase leather has been known to become a bit wrinkly since it does not stretch the same way that woven fabric does.
Steelcase leather is also not as breathable as Steelcase’s woven fabric upholstery since its pores are minuscule compared to the gaps in weaves.
This can make leather a bit hotter, especially in humid environments.
However, Steelcase leather is perfect when it comes to a durable chair, as well as having a luxurious look and feel.
When paired with the chair model that’s right for you, Steelcase leather will make a chair that will look, feel, and smell as good as new, even after years of use.
FAQs
Now that we’ve covered Steelcase’s leather upholstery, you may be wondering what chair models pair best with Steelcase leather, as well as what other popular and unique upholstery fabrics they offer.
If so, then you’re in luck!
We’ve compiled a list of the most popular Steelcase chairs for leather upholstery, as well as facts on two of Steelcase’s most popular fabrics, ERA and 3D Knit.
What Steelcase chair models pair well with leather upholstery?
Out of all the Steelcase chairs, the two models that have the best reviews are the Steelcase Leap and the Steelcase Amia.
comes in five variations: the Leap Chair, the Leap Plus, the Leap Stool, the Leap Chair with Headrest, and the Leap Worklounge.
The Leap variations are available in all of the Steelcase leather types except for Turnstone Leather. They are also available in fabric upholstery
The Steelcase Amia comes in six variations: the Amia Chair, the Amia Armless Chair, the Amia Air Chair, the Amia Stool, the Amia Armless Stool, and the Amia Air Stool.
Like the Leap, the Amia variations are available in all Steelcase leather types except for Turnstone Leather. .
What is Steelcase ERA?
Steelcases’ ERA fabric is one of their many options for furniture upholstery.
The fabric is woven into a herringbone pattern in 23 different colors. It feels smooth, but it is slightly rough and less breathable compared to other Steelcase fabrics.
Made in the United Kingdom, ERA consists of 100% piece-dyed polyester. It is free of antimony, and it is Oeko-Tex Certified.
Since it’s made from fabric, you can easily clean it using any water-based or solvent-based cleaners.
As of 2021, ERA is available for dozens of product lines, including the following:
- Scoop
- Crew
- Jersey Standard
- i2i Lounge Chair
- SILQ Sewn
- Cobi Sewn
- Steelcase Series 1
- Series 2 Uph Seat
- Leap
- Think
- Max-Stacker II
- Amia
What is Steelcase 3D Knit?
Steelcase’s 3D Knit fabric is another option for furniture upholstery.
The fabric is knitted into a mesh structure in 21 different colors. Compared to ERA, it is smoother, softer, and more breathable.
Made in the United States, 3D Knit consists of 100% jet-dyed polyester free of antimony and can be upholstered horizontally or vertically.
As of 2021, 3D Knit is only available for the following product lines:
- i2i Lounge Chair
- Gesture
- Leap 3D Knit Sewn
- Leap 3D Knit Std
- Leap Plus 3D Knit Sewn
- Leap Plus 3D Knit Std
- Think Std (Old)
- Think Uph Back
- Amia 3D Knit Sewn
- Amia 3D Knit Standard
Finally, the 3D Knit comes with a warranty of 12 years.
Conclusion
Steelcase offers eight types of leather upholstery: Chiaro, Elmorustical, Elmosoft, Elmotique, Mont Blanc, Steelcase Leather, Terra, and Turnstone Leather. All of them are made of 100% whole-hide leather.
Because of this, Steelcase’s leather upholstery is highly durable and maintains its luxurious quality even after years of regular use.
All leather types except Turnstone Leather are available for dozens of Steelcase products. Turnstone Leather is only available for the Lincoln Lounge product line.
The best chair models to pair with Steelcase’s leather upholstery are the Leap and the Amia product lines.
ERA is a type of fabric upholstery you can choose for Steelcase furniture. It is made of polyester and has a rough herringbone weave.
3D Knit is another type of Steelcase polyester fabric upholstery. It has a mesh structure for high breathability.
Whatever upholstery and chair you pick, we hope that this article helps you!
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.