What Is a Customer's Own Leather (COL)?
Customer's Own Leather, abbreviated COL, means you supply the hide and the manufacturer builds the piece in it. Hancock & Moore, a leather upholstery house in North Carolina, accepts COL on made-to-order seating available through Sutter & Vale, giving you control over the hide when the house's own extensive leather program does not include the specific material your project requires.
Why would a buyer use COL instead of the standard leather program?
COL makes sense when a specific hide is already committed to a project. A designer may have sourced a remnant from a European tannery, or a client may want to match leather already present in a room, on a boat, or in a vehicle. In those cases, COL lets the frame and construction come from a specialist house while the material comes from wherever the project demands.
The practical trade-off is responsibility. When you supply the leather, you own the outcome of the material itself. Defects, stretch, dye irregularities, and finish wear that trace back to the hide are outside the manufacturer's warranty.
How do you calculate how much leather to send?
Hide yardage is measured in square feet for leather, not linear yards the way fabric is quoted. The amount depends on several factors:
- The frame size and seat configuration
- Whether the piece is fully upholstered or has exposed wood panels
- The hide's usable yield, which varies by animal size and the number of scarring areas
Your Sutter & Vale representative will give you the cut yardage requirement before you order. For a side chair such as the Kindred Chair or the Jameson Chair, that figure is considerably lower than for a fully upholstered tight-back wing chair. Build in a buffer for waste and matching, and confirm the exact amount before purchasing your hide.
What should you check before sending a COL hide?
Not every leather is suitable for upholstery. Before you send material, confirm these points:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Temper and thickness | Upholstery leather typically runs 2.5 to 4 ounces; thinner hides may not hold tacks or staples |
| Finish type | Aniline and semi-aniline hides mark during handling and cutting |
| Stretch direction | Leather has a grain direction; the cutter needs to orient it correctly |
| Fire rating | Some commercial and contract projects require a certified flame rating |
| Hide size | Small hides may not yield a full chair back without a seam |
Does COL affect lead time?
Yes, in most cases it extends it. The hide must arrive at the factory, be inspected, and be approved before cutting begins. Ship your leather with ample lead time relative to your project deadline, and always use a trackable freight method. Damage in transit is the shipper's responsibility, and a lost hide restarts the clock.
For made-to-order seating across the Hancock & Moore range, including the accent chairs available at Sutter & Vale, confirm COL acceptance and required yardage at the time you place the order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is COL the same as COM (Customer's Own Material)?
COL and COM follow the same logic but apply to different materials. COM refers to fabric supplied by the customer, while COL refers to leather specifically. The ordering process and the responsibility rules are similar for both.
Can I send COL leather for any Hancock & Moore frame?
Most Hancock & Moore frames are available to order in COL, but acceptance depends on the specific construction and whether the hide you supply suits that frame's upholstery method. Confirm with Sutter & Vale before purchasing your leather.
What happens if I send too little leather?
If the yardage falls short, production stops until additional material arrives. Because leather is a natural product, matching dye lots after the fact is rarely possible. Always order and ship more than the stated requirement.
The Sutter & Vale Team
