Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 We may be in the market for a new couch. I like all the features of leather for couches except the leather part! Does anyone know of a man-made leather or alternative fabric that is tough and easy to wipe clean (when the kids spill stuff or draw on it) and wears well, lasts long, breathes... When I ask at furniture stores, I get told " Well, the animals are dying for food anyway and you don't want the leather to be wasted, why don't you just buy a leather one? " and I get the same story from friends. I haven't had much luck online, mostly I find things like shoes and handbags made from leather alternatives. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Heather, Actually there is quite a bit of furniture these days made from synthetic leather and synthetic suede. Personally, I like the look of the " suede " (also called " microfiber, " and " everyday suede " ) and I seem to remember hearing it is quite stain-resistant, but also more durable than the faux leather (which seems to crack and rip after a few years). Perhaps the furniture dealers are unaware of the items they carry that fall into this " faux " category? (I've encountered the same problem with shoes... retailers will mistakenly tell me items are made with real leather because they assume leather is more preferable to me). Here are some links to synthetic items I found: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=931 & f=11055 & q=suede & fromLocation=Sea\ rch & DIMID=400001 & SearchPage=1 http://ww2.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=schi1%7Cp1%7Cwsuede & pkey=sa1s00suede & \ gids=p4982 http://www.feldmanfurniture.com/first%20page/sofas/Large,carefullysculptedmicrof\ ibersuedesofa.html http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040815/news_mz1hs15fabri.html http://www.clubfurniture.com/bose.html http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/ref=sr_bx_1/602-2415270-8392614?field-keywo\ rds=faux+suede & url=index%3Dtarget & x=0 & y=0 I believe the entire Todd Oldham collection at Lazy Boy is also animal-free: http://www.peta.org/feat/mercedes/synthetic.asp http://www.lazboy.com/ourfurniture/collections/TO_collections.aspx I think some of the fabrics are of the faux-suede variety, but it is difficult to tell without seeing them in person. When in doubt if an item is genuine animal skin or faux, you can usually tell by the smell... Happy animal-free shopping:) Maria --- Heather <jhr wrote: > We may be in the market for a new couch. I like all > the features of > leather for couches except the leather part! Does > anyone know of a > man-made leather or alternative fabric that is tough > and easy to wipe > clean (when the kids spill stuff or draw on it) and > wears well, lasts > long, breathes... > > When I ask at furniture stores, I get told " Well, > the animals are dying > for food anyway and you don't want the leather to be > wasted, why don't > you just buy a leather one? " and I get the same > story from friends. I > haven't had much luck online, mostly I find things > like shoes and > handbags made from leather alternatives. > Heather > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 I just got a brown microfiber couch and I love it. I had it stain treated and have had no problems. On Behalf Of Heather Friday, March 31, 2006 8:12 PM Leather alternatives? We may be in the market for a new couch. I like all the features of leather for couches except the leather part! Does anyone know of a man-made leather or alternative fabric that is tough and easy to wipe clean (when the kids spill stuff or draw on it) and wears well, lasts long, breathes... When I ask at furniture stores, I get told " Well, the animals are dying for food anyway and you don't want the leather to be wasted, why don't you just buy a leather one? " and I get the same story from friends. I haven't had much luck online, mostly I find things like shoes and handbags made from leather alternatives. Heather For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Another option is buying furniture with fitted slipcovers like Ikea sells. I have two couches that have completely fitted covers (they look upholstered) but the covers are machine washable. Jacqueline http://adhdnme.blogspot.com On Behalf Of Maria Brenner April 1, 2006 3:06 PM Re: Leather alternatives? Heather, Actually there is quite a bit of furniture these days made from synthetic leather and synthetic suede. Personally, I like the look of the " suede " (also called " microfiber, " and " everyday suede " ) and I seem to remember hearing it is quite stain-resistant, but also more durable than the faux leather (which seems to crack and rip after a few years). Perhaps the furniture dealers are unaware of the items they carry that fall into this " faux " category? (I've encountered the same problem with shoes... retailers will mistakenly tell me items are made with real leather because they assume leather is more preferable to me). Here are some links to synthetic items I found: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=931 & f=11055 & q=suede & fromLocation =Search & DIMID=400001 & SearchPage=1 http://ww2.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=schi1%7Cp1%7Cwsuede & pkey=sa1s00su ede & gids=p4982 http://www.feldmanfurniture.com/first%20page/sofas/Large,carefullysculptedmi crofibersuedesofa.html http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040815/news_mz1hs15fabri.html http://www.clubfurniture.com/bose.html http://www.target.com/gp/search.html/ref=sr_bx_1/602-2415270-8392614?field-k eywords=faux+suede & url=index%3Dtarget & x=0 & y=0 I believe the entire Todd Oldham collection at Lazy Boy is also animal-free: http://www.peta.org/feat/mercedes/synthetic.asp http://www.lazboy.com/ourfurniture/collections/TO_collections.aspx I think some of the fabrics are of the faux-suede variety, but it is difficult to tell without seeing them in person. When in doubt if an item is genuine animal skin or faux, you can usually tell by the smell... Happy animal-free shopping:) Maria --- Heather <jhr wrote: > We may be in the market for a new couch. I like all > the features of > leather for couches except the leather part! Does > anyone know of a > man-made leather or alternative fabric that is tough > and easy to wipe > clean (when the kids spill stuff or draw on it) and > wears well, lasts > long, breathes... > > When I ask at furniture stores, I get told " Well, > the animals are dying > for food anyway and you don't want the leather to be > wasted, why don't > you just buy a leather one? " and I get the same > story from friends. I > haven't had much luck online, mostly I find things > like shoes and > handbags made from leather alternatives. > Heather > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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