Devotion to detail
Another step in the process is joining the sections of leather together once they have been cut, for example by sewing them. One method of seeing how carefully this work has been performed is from the way the leather is draped around seams and curved sections: irregularities affect the appearance of furniture and can lead to tension and creasing in the covering material. Low-grade thread or simple stitches can result in seams tearing after only a relatively short time.
One high-quality and very strong type of stitching is the lapped seam. Here, the two pieces of leather are laid one over the other so that the edge of one section protrudes, then they are sewn together with a simple saddle stitch. Finally, the top edge of the seam is tucked under the lower edge and sewn up using small stitches. Another possibility is piping, where a thin cord is sewn in between the two pieces of leather that have to be joined. Piping reinforces edges, covers and embellishes visible seams and can at the same time serve as a decorative element with the use of a contrasting colour from the rest of the material. Similar use is made of tucking, which is basically very fine piping. One other exclusive and rarely used method of joining sections of leather is lacing, which requires a great deal of experience and craftsmanship All the sewing here must be done by hand, with a leather thong being threaded through holes punched in the sections of the covering material. Even more complicated is the celebrated cross-lacing that is used to adorn several of de Sede’s models. Here the cruciform threading of the leather thong produces an attractive pattern of criss-cross stitches.
Inside the sofas and armchairs, there are wooden or metal frames. Here too, de Sede works only with the very best manufacturers in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. Design, material and finish all require rigorous attention to detail and usually need to be performed in several stages. Hinges and mechanical parts are also of high quality and guarantee that furniture enjoys a long life. In the case of many models, customers themselves can choose whether to have metal legs burnished, polished or lacquered, or wooden legs stained, oiled or lacquered. de Sede gives its customers the opportunity of having their new furniture finished as individually as possible - and, as so often in life, it’s the little details that play such a big role here, too.
