Discover 8 of the best Italian leather sofa brands with Made in Italy designs. Esperiri maps the top Italian leather sofa brands.
Combining traditional aesthetics with ancient techniques, leather has long been championed for its timeless quality. Throughout the home it can be used to soften architecture or add splendour to an interior design project, particularly in areas like the living room where leather furnishings are often the epicenter of domestic life.
An evolution in tradition from these top Italian leather sofa brands
Today, some of the best Italian leather sofa brands have dedicated their expertise to ensure the longevity of the leather-making tradition, producing textiles with rich tactility and visual potential. Available in a range of finishes, colors and styles, the possibilities are endless. So, to help you in your choice, we have selected 8 for you to discover.
Poltrona Frau
From Ferraris to the EU Parliament – many of the most exclusive places in the world offer leather seating by Poltrona Frau. Among the top Italian leather sofa brands, it has perfected a system that involves twenty-one steps of preparation. It also only uses the top layer of the dermis, which is the only part of the hide that qualifies as full grain.
Known for its elegant mix of rich craft, heritage and creativity, one of Poltrona Frau’s icons is The Chester, an enduring classic since it was introduced in 1912, the same year that the brand was founded. Characterized by pleated armrests, it celebrates the classic shape of sofas and armchairs that populated English clubs and country houses in Edwardian England.
For more than a century Poltrona Frau has furnished interior design projects, adding a touch of timeless elegance. Emblematic of this approach is the brand’s Get Back seating system, a modular leather sofa inspired by the Beatles lyric, ‘…get back to where you once belonged’. Designed by Ludovica and Roberta Palomba, its reclined backrests underline their intention to create a haven of relaxation, sitting on a suspended frame supported by simple aluminium feet that give the overall feeling of lightness.
It follows on from the design duo’s Let It Be sofa, another tribute to the english rock band with a similarly modular approach. Open to infinite configurations, the structure features saddle-leather straps with visible leather and saddle-leather stitching.
B&B Italia
Four-time winner of Italy’s most prestigious design award the Compasso d’oro, B&B Italia is undoubtedly one of the best Italian leather sofa brands. Since 1966, it has led the way in anticipating trends and unveiling iconic pieces that preserve the excellence of raw materials, many the result of collaborations with celebrated designers and architects.
Take the Atoll collection by Antonio Citterio, a modular series formed of three basic platforms, striking a balance between aesthetic form and a decisive style. You can choose between cockpit sofas, dormeuse, individual elements, chaise longue styles and poufs.
Then there’s Diesis, an elegant formal sofa with a classic look designed by Citterio with Paola Nava, intended to be set in the centre of a room like a work of art.
Tacchini
Ranging from great classics to innovations that are clean, minimal and reflect a modern aesthetic, family-run Tacchini has carried with it the ‘Made in Italy’ hallmark since 1967. Take the Sesann sofa which is perfect for the contemporary living room, encased in an architectural steel frame that beautifully envelopes the leather upholstery. See how played off the linearity of the Sesann and styled it in our modern Italian living room concept.
Designed in the ‘70s by Milanese architect Gianfranco Frattini and reissued in 2015, it’s bold form tells of Tacchini’s desire to discover new shapes, a story that continues in recent releases like Julep, a generously ample sofa influenced by the 1950s Avant-Garde movement.
Sculptural seating systems and modular sofas that honor traditional craftsmanship
Flexform
A list of top Italian leather sofa brands would not be complete without Flexform, known worldwide for its refined and versatile collections. Since 1959, the company has collaborated with some of the best designers on the Italian design scene: Cini Boeri, Joe Colombo and Giulio Manzoni.
For over forty years, Antonio Citterio has coordinated the entire collection, designing an exceptional line of leather sofas including the iconic MAX, a sculptural cult classic characterized by its sinuous lines. Designed in 1983, it paved the way for more recently released pieces such as Sveva, a shell-like two-seater with a distinct silhouette and a similarly bold presence.
Arflex
A more contemporary aesthetic can be found in Arflex, a company founded in 1947 when technicians from Pirelli, along with architect Marco Zanuso, started using industrial materials and technologies to build and design Italian furniture. Among its collections are pieces that echo the brand’s experimental origins, like the Marenco sofa, which uses a revolutionary assembly system making it seamless to attach the seat and armrest cushions to the base.
The Naviglio further reflects Arflex’s imaginative amalgamation of technology and aesthetics, featuring a cleverly engineered joint allowing the three or four seat sofa to be poised on slender legs. It’s perfectly suited to modern interiors as is the Hollywood, a fixed or modular design with a backrest in shaped polyurethane and feather goose down.
Cassina
Steeped in history, Cassina is known around the world as a leader of Italian design. It also usesonly full grain leather, creating iconic pieces to enliven the atmosphere and add a touch of style to your interiors. The soft and slightly tailored 202.8 is the perfect representation of Cassina’s ability to integrate seamlessly with modern life.
Piero Lissoni balances proportions in a sober silhouette with detailed upholstery whose clever folds and invisible stitching nod to the brand’s mastering of Italian leather. The sofa’s soft lines are complemented by feather-filled inserts in the seat, back and arms.
Molteni&C has a range of sofas with many characters to suit all tastes, from cosy and subversive to elegant and classic. Each one illustrates the brand’s technological and upholstering expertise and is available in 8 types of leather, one of which is vegetable.
Skin is just one of Molteni&C’s one-of-a-kind offerings and features a self-supporting hide leather cut with geometric incisions that reshapes itself over time. It is the result of many years of collaboration with Jean Nouvel and reinterprets the unique architecture of the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris.
Living Divani
Understated luxury is the essence of Living Divani who says leather is its ‘favorite material.’ Since the 1970s, it has been a landmark within the interior design landscape, its pieces formed with volumes of harmonious proportions. The company’s Extrasoft collection offers you the ultimate freedom, offering infinite combination possibilities of seats and armrests/backrests, with irregular contours.
If you need help choosing the right leather sofa or want support realising an interior design project, our Italian design service can help. Our experts are available to assist you throughout, from selecting the most appropriate sofa layout and leather colour to local installation. In addition to the pieces listed above in our selection of top Italian leather sofa brands we can also realise customized solutions to suit any space.
If instead you would prefer to discover the best ‘Made in Italy’ has to offer in person, we invite you to take part in a customized Italian furniture shopping tour. Organized with you in mind, this is a chance for you to see first-hand award-winning objects, including the best leather furniture of the best Italian sofa brands, from ateliers to art galleries, showrooms and craft workshops. And if you want to take anything home, our logistics team will take care of the shipment and installation anywhere in the world.
Your unique Interior Design Project developed by Italian Professionals.
Discover and shop Made in Italy while living the Italian lifestyle in Milano.
FAQs
Are Italian leather sofas good quality? ›
The highest quality leathers are produced in Italy, so it's no surprise that Italian leather sofas are some of the most expensive sofas available.
What is the best quality leather for sofas? ›Royalin, full grain and top grain leathers will always be the best leather for furniture, but they will also come in as the most expensive of the leather options. Other styles, like bi-cast, bonded and faux leather, offer a similar look at a much lower price point.
Is Italian leather furniture good quality? ›For over a thousand years, Italians have been known for their craftsmanship of the finest, full grain leather goods. Italian craftsmanship is timeless, especially when it comes to leather furniture. Luxurious and durable, Italian leather is held to the highest standard because of its authenticity and quality.
What sofa brands are like Natuzzi? ›Natuzzi's competitors and similar companies include Furniture Factory Maria, Uratex, Bontempo and Sedus.
Is Natuzzi leather good quality? ›Leather upholstery expresses a natural nobility. This luxurious material is not only durable, but can actually get better with age. Leather is strong, flexible, and naturally adapts to the shape of your body for perfect comfort.
What type of leather sofa lasts the longest? ›Pigmented leather is the most durable type and is used in the majority of furniture upholstery. The durability is provided by a polymer surface coating, which contains pigments.
What are the 4 grades of leather? ›There are generally considered four types of leather quality grades, listed from best to worst: full grain leather, top grain leather, genuine leather, and bonded leather.
Which leather is considered high quality? ›Full-Grain Leather Is the Best Quality
It is the most popular type of leather. It has not been snuffed, sanded, or buffed to remove any natural marks or imperfections from its surface. Its fibers are stable and durable because the grain has not been removed.
Full grain is top of the line leather for high-end products. Top grain leather is the most common type of leather used in high-end leather furniture.
Is Italian leather better than genuine leather? ›Italian leather is known as the very best in the leather industry. This is the result of its lineage and consistent quality. In the fashion industry, luxury brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton only use Italian leather because it is recognisable as a mark of quality.
How long does Italian leather sofa last? ›
The average lifespan of an Italian leather sofa
We've got some of the best Italian leather sofas around, and they'll last you 10 to 15 years with proper care. In comparison to the typical 5-year lifespan of a fabric sofa, Italian leather sofas like the Limousine Sofa has a lifespan of 15 to 20 years.
The premium leather that Italy is renowned for is the full-grain, vegetable-tanned kind. Removed from the outermost layer of the animal's skin — the most durable part of the hide — full-grain leather has an unaltered grain structure and is subsequently extremely robust.
Is Natuzzi genuine leather? ›Natuzzi is 100% high-grade genuine leather. If you have kids or pets, you may prefer Protecta Leather, which has been treated with a protective finish. This prevents tears or scratches on your upholstery.
Is Natuzzi made in China? ›Natuzzi Editions products are manufactured at the Group's overseas plants (Romania, China and Brazil), as well as in Italy, and are sold principally through monobrand stores and galleries.
How long do Natuzzi sofas last? ›How long do Natuzzi sofas typically last? Considering the quality of materials and practices used by the manufacturer, it's reasonable to expect your new Natuzzi sofa to last around 15 years.
What grade leather does Natuzzi use? ›Natuzzi offers leather furniture for sitting, sleeping and reclining--upholstered in gorgeous 100% top-grain Italian leather hides from grade 10 leathers all the way up to grade 30 leathers.
What color leather couch is timeless? ›If you want timeless furniture, go for a timeless color. Yes, a color! A blue, yellow, or black sofa will be a lot more timeless than the popular gray. The gray sofas of today are just the brown leather sofas of 10 years ago.
What is the most popular color for leather sofas? ›Brown Leather Sofa – A Popular Choice
It's not hard to see why brown is the most popular colour for a leather sofa. It offers a wonderful palette, from tans through to rich chocolates and lends itself beautifully to classic sofa styles, such as a leather Chesterfield like the Harrington.
The Best Time to Buy Furniture
New furniture generally hits the showroom floor around the end of winter and end of summer, and so around February and August, you'll often find better deals and discounts as retailers make room for the new season's offerings.
Crocodile leather is the most expensive in the world. It's the most sought-after luxury leather used by Italian tailors.
What type of leather lasts the longest? ›
The most durable and longest-lasting type of leather is full-grain leather. It takes about ten years to break down completely, even when used regularly. It is made from the outermost layer of the hide, which has natural imperfections from scars to brands that give each piece its unique look.
How can you tell high quality leather? ›An item of good leather quality will usually have quality stitching to match. Flaws in stitching, hardware, and lining can indicate inferior leather. Pay attention to how it feels and looks. If the leather feels wrong (hard, plasticky, or thin), it probably is.
What are the different types of Italian leather? ›Italian leather is admired for this very reason – as Italian leather artisans are considered amongst the most skilled in the world. In general, there are four types of leather. These include Full Grain Leather, Top Grain Leather, Corrected Grain Leather, and Bonded Leather. Take a look at the picture below.
What is top grain leather sofa? ›What is Top Grain Leather? Top grain leather refers to the top cut of cowhide with the outermost layer of skin either sanded, buffed, or shaved off to remove blemishes. Top grain leather retains much of the strength and durability of full grain leather and is the most popular type of leather used in furniture today.
How much is a good quality leather couch? ›Initial Price
A high-quality fabric sofa or set will run about $1,000-$5,000. A real leather couch the same size will be about $1,200-$7,000. Designer pieces, of course, will run higher. Since leather is considered timeless and versatile, it is also more valuable.
Low-Quality Leather Couches
Even if you expect such leather couches won't last longer than five years, they are not five times cheaper than full-grain leather couches that could last at least 25 years.
Real leather is going to have great durability over time because it won't crack or peel. Instead of wearing out, real leather will develop a patina on its natural surface. Faux leather, or PU leather, is not going to be as durable as real leather, but it will be more durable compared to bonded leather.
What is 100% genuine Italian leather? ›Genuine Italian leather, first of all, has a mechanical strength which ensures a longer life time of the product; this material is also fire-resistant and breathable. Continuous usage, finally, makes the leather gentler, while fake one tends to "split", which will make it unusable.
Where in Italy has the best leather? ›Florence is known around the world for the tradition and craftsmanship of its leather products.
What is top grain Italian leather? ›And: Top Grain? It is made of a thinner layer of hide: softer and more flexible than the Full Grain. Its surface has been sanded and a finish coat can be added. It does not develop a patina unlike the other one but it is less breathable.
Does Italian leather scratch easily? ›
He told us that even if it were in our budget he would absolutely not sell it to us because the full grain Italian leather and the couch construction was not meant for rough use. This kind of leather scratches easily and will show any marks because there is no coating protecting the surface.
How can you tell real Italian leather? ›Genuine Italian leather will have a rich, earthy aroma.
Fake leather, on the other hand, will have a chemical smell or no smell at all. Other leathers sometimes use chemicals in the treating process that mask or hide the smell of real leather, but Italian leather does not.
The best cleaner for Italian leather furniture is the brand's recommended cleaner, or mild soap and warm water. Always try a moist cloth on a tiny area before applying it all over the sofa. Avoid aggressive cleaners that can dry or degrade the material, and never oversaturate liquid cleaners on Italian leather.
Why is Italian leather so cheap? ›Most inexpensive leather items are made from vera pelle or vero cuoio, often consisting of layers of low quality leather glued together and dyed to resemble more prized leather.
Which country produces the best quality leather? ›Leatherproducts have always been considered as one of the most outstanding items inthe world. The leather industry in Turkey outshines the others because of itsunique quality of the raw materials and its production process.
What is Grade 2 leather sofa? ›Grade 2 Leathers:
These leathers are not a corrected grain but a full grain. This means these hides are left in their most natural grain pattern. You can find both finished and semi aniline leathers within this grade.
1) Unzip seat cushions.
Better-quality pieces have foam covered by batting enclosed in muslin. 2) Knead the frame along back, rail, corners and arms. If you feel hard or sharp edges, padding is skimpy. 3) The sofa back should be padded to give a finished look.
Couches that have a dense hardwood frame (like maple, walnut or teak) are the most durable. Tightly woven textiles and leather are long-lasting fabric choices.
Is Natuzzi a luxury brand? ›NATUZZI Italia
Their Mediterranean-centered design has begun to draw inspiration from all over the world while remaining at their core a minimalist, luxury brand.
Natuzzi Italia is a promise of excellence and high-value manufacturing. It is at the very heart of the Natuzzi brand, founded in 1959, and now the world's most renowned furniture brand among connoisseurs of luxury goods.
What's the difference between Natuzzi Italia and Natuzzi Editions? ›
Natuzzi Italia products are distributed through single-brand point of sales: Natuzzi Store and Natuzzi Gallery (shop-in-the-shop). Natuzzi Editions is the brand that provides a wide range upholstery and furnishings, available in different designs and functions, made in Natuzzi's factory all over the world.
How do I choose a sofa that will last? ›Avoid metal and soft woods. Also consider the joints: It may sound obvious, but avoid any couches held together solely with nails, staples, or glue. Wooden dowels, metal screws or brackets, or “corner blocks”—bolstered by extra glue and nails—are much sturdier options.)
How much should you pay for a couch? ›So here's your first tip: anything under $699 is considered an inexpensive sofa. $799–$1,999 is the average you'll pay for one sofa. Any sofa within the $2,000–$3,000 is considered “higher-end”.
What sofas are well made? ›- Ballard Designs.
- Benchmade Modern.
- Crate & Barrel.
- Flexsteel (buy from a local furniture retailer)
- Joybird.
- Klaussner (buy from a local furniture retailer)
- La-Z-Boy.
- Poly & Bark.
Italian leather is highly regarded in fashion and design for the beauty of its nuances and its long-lasting strength.
Is Italian leather better than us leather? ›One of the reasons Italian leather hides are superior to others, is that they use all-natural items such as vegetable and plant-based extracts to dye their leather (e.g. tree bark, vegetable tannin) and this results in a much stronger and longer lasting leather product.
Is 100% Italian leather good? ›And from a structural perspective, Italian leather is renowned for being supple and flexible. Because full-grain Italian leather does not have its grain structure altered, any natural markings on the surface of the animal's hide will still be perceptible after the tanning process is complete.