Excerpt from Tamara Warren’s DUB Magazine column Street Savvy.

Gonna live positive, forever and ever
Run-D.M.C, and we’re tougher than leather

What counts is on the inside. Real luxury isn’t about flash and dash; its how it makes you feel. That’s why interiors are number two on the list of what matter when you buy your next new car, according to JD Powers statistics.

Materials make a statement. And there’s no stronger statement than leather. Leather has been a part of automotive interiors since the days of the stagecoach. One Michigan supplier, Eagle Tanning Works, specialized in making automotive interiors as far back as 1916.

On the surface leather looks luxurious, but let’s face it, the history of leather is not entirely comfortable. I remember several of my parents’ 1970s Chryslers with leather seats scalding my backside on hot summer days — enough to make me shy away from leather couches in recording studios for a few decades.

But there’s beauty of technology and classic styling merging. When I heard about BMW’s sun reflective cooling leather seats, it became clear to me that logic and luxury had finally caught up.

My leather so soft/My top so soft
I’ll probably have it off these ni$$$$ so soft
And I go so hard

— Lil Wayne and Birdman

When I gripped the cushy leather steering wheel on the 2008 Audi TT crossing through sexy California wine country corridors, I really started to change my mind about leather and cars. The leather grip fit to my fingers like a good pair of gloves, confirming that leather is starting to feel really good.
The hot designs are much more sophisticated than a little Louis Vuitton patchwork. It’s the texture that matters. When it comes to benchmark, Bentley sets the tone using grade leather where there are no bugs. Who wants leather seats with mosquito bites? If you happen to tear up your Bentley Brooklands, the first interior made entirely of leather, you’ll find that the machinist signed the back of it. That’s leather as a work of art — undercover custom.

All red Chevrolet, 26’s ridin high
Dukes of Hazzard doors, in Compton we call ‘em suicides
Suede roof, leather seats, woodgrain steering wheel
— The Game on Rich Boy’s Throw Some D’s

Right now, it’s about untreated leather. Leather is generally coated to keep off the stains. Cadillac offers three types of leather that vary in degrees of softness and the way they respond to wear and tear. Why is it what’s expensive is most fragile? Tahema, which Cadillac owns under a licensing agreement with Clint Eastwood, is softer than a pillow, but the leather will experience lovemarks over time.

Yes, if it feels good, that’s what matters. There’s also leather that’s scented for feeling crossing across all your six senses. What’s next? For the animal lovers out there, leather is already played out, but never fear, protein vinyl substitutions are here. Now we’ve seen it all — vegetarian leather.

I’m out here servin disturbin’ the peace, life could be better
like my man reclined in plush leather seats – Memphis Bleek on Jay Z’s “Coming of Age.”

Tweet This Post