Blog

IMG_3259 (853x1280) (682x1024)

It is usually the King who returns home for his throne, but our throne just traveled back to us!

Earlier this year a fantastic piece of functional art was made by the experts at Brand Standard Furnishings.  A Royal Throne made with our eye-grabbing Shimmering Suede has been traveling around to tradeshows and is back home with us now.

IMG_3256 (1220x1280) (976x1024)

The Shimmering Suede Royal Throne is a symbol, a symbol of ruling your own Kingdom of Design.  It is regal and stately, it is imposing and attention demanding, but it is also expressive, designy, and fun.  And we at Townsend Leather believe that designing should be artistic and fun, as well as simple and effective.

This is why we have been urging customers to Become The Ruler of Their Own Kingdom of Design with Townsend Leather.

IMG_3277 (1280x926)

IMG_3279 (1280x918)

Townsend Leather’s sample store is mindfully designed to be simple, easy, and to the point.  Allowing you to choose exactly the color, pattern, or texture you desire.

Create your own lightbox “design board,”  share your lightbox with friends or clients, or print it for your next presentation. 

Or place your sample order and get memo samples of your selections sent directly to you!  

IMG_3253 (1280x971) (1024x777) IMG_3254 (1280x1269) (1024x1015)   IMG_3257 (1280x877) (1024x702)  IMG_3258 (1280x1026) (1024x821)

A Royal Throne is only complete with its crown, scepter, and leather cape!

IMG_3261 (1280x853) (1024x682)

Contact us at info@townsendleather.com for more information about browsing our samples or for information and samples of our Shimmering Suede

Monday August 27th, was Women’s Equality Day in honor of the day that Women were finally granted the right to vote.  It’s hard to believe this only happened less than 100 years ago!

In honor of how far Women’s Rights have come, we wanted to share a few interesting articles we have come across that point to the power, influence, and intelligence of women.  Especially in the broad field of design and related industries.

Townsend Women
Shown here: a few of the experts of Townsend Leather. This post features a couple images of just a few of the vastly intelligent and inspiring women that keep Townsend moving each day, during a spur of the moment meeting this morning.

The ever impressive Gensler Associate, Rashana Zaklit, wrote an insightful piece for HD’s HD Talk Blog.  You can see it here, Rashana Zaklit / HD

Rashana brings up great points on the importance of understanding the needs of everyone using your space, your design, your creation – whatever it is.  Anytime you are looking at only one sect, you are out of balance.  When you consider everyone and each varying need you are closer to the goal of true equality.

The Next Women Magazine has a series of articles covering a broad range of Female power and abilities.  You can see all the greatness in their Female Heroes Series / The Next Women Magazine

And coincidentally Fast Company recently posted a list of its top 25 Smartest Women on Twitter, one of which is Simone Brummelhuis, Founder and CEO of The Next Women Magazine.  You should check out the list and follow them all, there is a lot of genius being spread by that little blue bird.

Fast Company also recently highlighted the humorous and poignant slideshow work of Terri Oda, as she helps to explain why math is NOT just a “boys game”  That post is followed by equally valuable articles covering all kinds of female/design industry challenges and insights.

Townsend Women4

Also, you can take a view inside the life of one of the most inspiring creative women we have come across, Tina Roth Eisenberg through the fantastic lens of the Like Knows Like team. Tina is the founder of the always pleasing design-centric blog, Swiss-Miss, but she also has a line of beautifully illustrated temporary tattoos, and most inspiringly she established the now global, Creative Mornings – which has to be viewed to be appreciated (or go to the blog for more info and video clips, http://blog.creativemornings.com/).

Townsend Women3

It is especially meaningful to celebrate the significance (even in our very small way) of Women’s Equality, here at Townsend Leather; as Johnstown New York – home of Townsend Leather, is also home to the “Birthplace of equal rights for women” by being the birthplace of one of the most influential women for the cause, Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  You can see more about Ms. Stanton and Johnstown’s role on equal rights for women here,  http://www.johnstownnyhistory.com/stanton.html

And to close this post, we end on a quote from the White House Blog from yesterday, regarding Women’s Equality Day, “On this Women’s Equality Day, we honor those who fought tirelessly for a woman’s right to vote, but we know that there is much more work to do.
Let us keep marching forward together.”

Townsend Women2

Haute Living dot com is a great place to go for all things Fine Living, and this week was no exception.

Townsend Leather is proud to provide luxury leather to all the private aircraft industry and is especially proud to count Gulfstream amongst our valued relationships.

You can see a full write-up on Gulfstream’s G450 here, Haute Living Gulfstream G450

http://www.hauteliving.com/2013/08/gulfstream-g450/385976/

Taking inspiration from artists like Jackson PollockMark TobeyMark RothkoHans Hoffman,
and more, along with the hand-craft of intricate patterning, Townsend Leather’s in-house artists have created a truly one-of-a-kind offering,

Townsend Leather’s Abstract Art Series.

Straitions

Townsend’s Artists work under the direction of our Creative Virtuoso, Stephan Paciolla,
to create endless opportunities of creativity and customization on leather.

Drawing upon specialized painting techniques, the Abstract Art Series
can make nearly any artistic idea come to life.

Abstract Art

Because the leather hides are literally created, crafted, and painted by hand
each one is unique and the variation becomes an integral element to its beauty.

Over the past year (Our Abstract Art Series was launched at NBAA 2012) we have created
a tremendous amount of R&D, sample, and ordered pieces each with a different look.

The most popular looks have been our Eastern Lattice and Striations

Eastern Lattice and Striations

These styles have been used for headboards, wall panels, and furniture.

We have also done beautiful abstract art concepts pieces,
such as the Threadneedles Hotel in London shown here,

Threadneedles Hotel in London Leather Sun (Custom)

And we have enhanced some office space at Townsend by incorporating the Abstract Art Series

Townsend's unique custom chair

The Abstract Art Series can be customized to your artistic desires or you can utilize the designs we have already created.  This series of leather brings a truly unique look to any design.  The varied techniques are applied by hand by our artists with brushstrokes, stenciling, and layers creating depth and colors that will enhance any interior.

The Abstract Art Series can be bold, daring, and attention-getting as a focal point
or it can be subdued and coordinate perfectly with the rest of the space.

See the photo gallery below for some more examples of the Townsend Leather Abstract Art Series.  And contact us to request your own samples or get more information about the series.
Due to the hand-crafted nature of these products,
sampling is limited and not available direct from our sample store.

If you are interested in a handcrafted Abstract Art Series leather from Townsend Leather, created by-hand by our in-house artists, please contact us at info@townsendleather.com

Continuing our series of exploring all the many aspects, processes, and departments that go into the production of luxury leather, we once again take a trip “Out On The Floor” (previously here and here).

A pivotal moment in the production process.

TOGGLING.

Townsend Leather Toggling (1280x652)

The guys working in the toggle department, work with unparalleled speed and grace.

Reaching to every nook and cranny of a hide, to pull it to its best shape.  They work with so many metal toggle hooks, hides, and toggle boards – they can nearly do it in their sleep.  But, this certainly is not a sleepy mindless task, this job takes focus and expert understanding of the structure of the hide.

Townsend Leather Toggling1 (1280x605)

In the toggling department, the craftsmen lightning-quick assess the hide for its optimal shape and size, then get to work – grabbing each edge, each outlier, each neck, shoulder, leg, and bit of the hide.  They gently and carefully stretch it in equal distribution – all 4 partners moving in sync to perfectly balance the hide on the board.

Townsend Leather Toggling2 (1280x853) (2)

The hide is stretched to reduce the visibility of wrinkles, to help smooth the grain of the hide, and to stretch it to its full capacity in order to reduce any shrinkage.

The hide will hang and slowly dry and acclimate to its optimally flattened position, for an average of 6 to 8 hours.

Townsend Leather Toggling3 (1280x908)

Cycling through the machine, then carefully being removed in its one-of-many steps toward becoming beautiful luxurious leather.

Townsend Leather Toggling4 (1280x853)

 

We have been taking some time to look back, but are excited to now turn our eyes to what’s next.

Looking just barely ahead to the Fall fashion trends.

leather and lace pinterest

We’ve talked before about Fashion/Interiors cycle, so we are excited to see how these fashion trends start to influence interiors.

Lace Weave1 (1280x853)

LEATHER AND LACE

Fall Fashion Trend for 2013, you will be seeing lots of lace.  And often the subtle delicacy of lace will be coupled with the weight and suppleness of leather.

8443410089_f885243a5e_z

Icon, Beyonce, is one of many leading the front on this trend, see more about this look here, Fashbo.

And Townsend has been right along on this fashion ride, with one of our newest introductions, a Gaufraged and Tipped Nubuck leather, we are calling Lace Weave.

    Lace Weave6 (1280x853)

Lace Weave7 (1264x1280)

Lace Weave8 (1280x1238)

The woven lace look is prominent in fashion forward designs, more on these looks from WWD

Lace Trend Cynthia SteffeLace Weave2 (1280x853)

Lace Weave9 (1280x882)

Vegas Magazine tells about the dual side of lace and the fashion impact,

and shows a bit of the fall fashion influence lace has had on accessories as well.

Lace Weave11 (1280x918)

  No matter how you use it, in fashion, accessories, interiors, you are sure to see a lot of lace influence this fall.

Lace Weave4 (1280x807)

Lace Weave3 (1280x853)

Pictured here is Townsend Leather’s brand new Nubuck Gaufrage and Tipped Lace Weave selection, available in Charcoal, Old Lace, Chocolate, Red Hot red, and Nautical Blue colors.  Or your own custom color.

Samples will be available soon, contact us today at info@townsendleather.com to get first in line for yours.

There is nothing like holding leather in your hand, feeling it drape over your fingers, inhaling the intoxicating aroma, feeling its weight and suppleness, but when you can’t actually feel the leather – the next best thing is a photo.

Florals and Damasks (Custom)

Townsend is always looking for your photos, your stories, your projects.

We love to see our leather in action, if you have any photos you can share please send them along to info@townsendleather.com  You could even be featured in our Designer Showcase!

One of a Kind Townsend Leather original chair

But if you have no photos to share, feel free to browse ours – in our Photo Gallery, on Facebook, Pinterest or especially on Instagram where we have just started a new photo series of showcasing the beauty in machines, follow the hashtag  #beautyinmachines.

Photo: #beautyinmachines

We are trying to grow a trend around finding the beauty in everyday objects, and doing this with a focus on our Leather Manufacturing machines, we fully believe the real craft and beauty that comes from these machines is because of the hands that use them, but we like showing the unsung beauty of “regular” things.

Photo: #beautyinmachines

Leather Photos Antique and Glazed 1 (Custom) Woven (Custom) Traditional 3 (Custom) Western_ (Custom) HairOn (Custom)

Photo: Last week, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) honored six architects and designers at its 40th Interior Design Competition during NeoCon. Here's a look at the winning projects:http://www.editoratlarge.com/articles/3467/iida-awards-six-firms-at-annual-design-competition

Join the conversation!  Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Pin with us on Pinterest, or Follow us on Instagram

Or most importantly share your images with us!

 

Latest