Sustainable Alternative, PortugaliaCork, Debuts at High Point Market

April 3, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry   

For the first-ever trade show presentation of furniture applications in the U.S., PortugaliaCork leather will be featured in the following manufacturer showrooms during April’s High Point Market: 

Lee Industries

Taylor King Furniture

The MT Company

Carolina Custom Leather

Our House Designs

Designmaster Furniture

Style Upholstering, Inc.

A furniture item upholstered in PortugaliaCork leather will additionally be on display in the inaugural FS (Fashion Snoops) trends exhibit entitled “Symbiotic,” launching in the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame building on April 22.

PortugaliaCork leather is made from natural cork grown in Portugal. Cork is a renewable resource harvested from the outer bark of live trees, which continue their growing cycle. According to a study published by researchers at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) in 2020, cork products store more carbon than are used in their production (carbon negative).

Other reports estimate that cork oak forests, from which cork leather is produced, absorb 14 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per hectare annually, while also serving a vital role in the support of natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and water resources.

Driven by growing consumer demand for more planet-friendly products, furniture manufacturers were introduced to the sustainable leather-alternative during last fall’s International Textiles Assn. (ITA) Interwoven event. 

While cork leather may be specified for a variety of consumer products traditionally produced with leather from animal hides, the U.S. distributor of PortugaliaCork leather is focused on applications for the residential and commercial furnishings sectors.

“PortugaliaCork is the leader in developing innovative products using natural cork and we could not be more excited to introduce what we believe will emerge as the top natural alternative to leather in the furnishings space,” says Steve Sechrest, the principal in the U.S. distributorship. “Cork combines a natural and familiar appearance with impressive durability and unmatched sustainability.”

The beneficial properties of cork leather for furniture use are inherent in the material, including being naturally waterproof, cleanable, scratch-resistant and neutral in temperature. 

In addition to a natural cork look, the material is offered in several finish options, including a range of colors, a marbled effect, metallic-flecked and printed patterns. Furniture applications are similarly diverse to those using natural leather or upholstery fabric, such as tufted, loose cushion, and tight-back styles. 

To learn more about PortugaliaCork leather and how it’s made, visit www.corkleather.us. Locate the showrooms listed above in the High Point Market exhibitor directory.