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Pig Skin Newest Fashion In Furniture, Decorating
What could be more appropriate for a farm family that raises hogs than pigskin furniture? Pigskin suede upholstery is the newest rage in furniture. It's being used for chairs, and for decorating rooms in pigskin draperies, tiles, lamp shades, and pillows. A leading promoter of pigskin suede is Lucia Leathers, Richardson, Texas, named for owner Lucia Refoy who was a designer for the HushPuppy shoe line before launching her own business. Lucia's main product is "Kroupana" suede, which is pigskin that's tanned to be as supple as cloth. It's available in 18 colors.
"Kroupana suede has been called the 'cool leather' because it 'breathes' through the natural hair follicles that grow deep into the skin to create thousands of tiny air holes. You won't stick to it in hot weather," Lucia told FARM SHOW. "Its resistance to stains, both liquid and solid, is almost impossible to believe," she points out. "Wine, coffee or tea all roll off with no penetration. Mustard, catsup and other pasty materials scrape off with a butter knife. The residue can be brushed off when it dries."
During tanning, the suede is saturated with "Scotchgard" which gives it its resistance to stains. The material is also fire-resistant.
The printed version of the pigskin is Luciana, which comes in a variety of patterns and designs. One decorative piece made with Luciana is a wall tile with good acoustical qualities - in addition to its beauty and durability.
Lucia notes that only perfect skins are used for her products, and that only about 3 out of 10 skins are perfect. The high-prided hides ($4 per sq. ft.) demand that waste be minimized. So, in the tradition of using "everything but the squeal", Lucia Leathers has packaged the pigskin scraps for sale as craft materials.
The craft kit retails for $11.50, including postage. The assortment of scraps includes ideas for making belts, pictures, lamps, jewel boxes, and Christmas decorations.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lucia Leathers, 32 Dal Rich Village, Richardson, Tx. 75080 (ph 214 2318214).


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1980 - Volume #4, Issue #6