Upholstery Leather Supplier in South Africa
Eight tested grades, from full aniline to pigmented corrected grain, in 79 colours. Sold by the whole hide from our Midrand warehouse and couriered nationwide. Every grade passes the BS 5852 and EN 1021 fire tests.
What is leerSMART leather?
leerSMART is Smart Ikhaya’s range of eight upholstery leathers, each named after a South African hardwood. All eight are chrome-tanned bovine hides, finished for furniture and tested by the tannery for rub fastness, flexing, tear strength, light fastness and burning behaviour. We supply them by the hide through our Midrand warehouse to upholsterers, furniture makers, interior designers and trimmers across South Africa.
Browse the leerSMART Range
Eight leather grades, each named after a South African hardwood tree. Click any leather to explore colours, specs, and pricing.
Buttery-soft full aniline hide with a hand-buffed distressed finish. Natural grain, rich depth and a velvety feel.
Semi-aniline leather with a distinctive waxy crackle effect. Silky touch, gentle matte sheen, and excellent durability.
Lightly buffed pigmented leather on buffalo hides. Consistent colour, low maintenance and the most lightfast of the range. The one for high-use commercial and family furniture.
Pure aniline pull-up leather with a glossy finish. Natural markings give each hide its own character, and it develops a rich patina over time.
Semi-corrected semi-aniline leather, hand-buffed to a suede-like softness. Nubuck-like surface for high-end furniture; swatches vary in shade, so use them as a guide.
Waxy crackle effect with a silky hand feel and brilliant sheen. A versatile semi-aniline with durable elegance for premium furniture.
Buffalo leather with a distinctive rub-off finish: a lighter underlayer shows through at stress points, giving an antique character.
Full aniline pull-up leather with a matte surface and vintage character. Develops a patina with use, for classic and modern upholstery alike.
What are the specifications of each grade?
These are the tannery’s published test results for each article, averaged across production runs. Ask us for the full specification sheet of any grade.
| Grade | Finish | Hide | Avg hide | Thickness | Light fastness | Wet rub | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soetdoring | Pigmented, corrected grain, lightly buffed | Buffalo | 5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 5 | 250 cycles > 3/4 | 28 |
| Olienhout | Semi-aniline, waxy crackle, brilliant sheen | Exotic | 4.5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 5 | 250 cycles > 3/4 | 7 |
| Geelhout | Semi-aniline, waxy crackle, gentle matte | Exotic | 4.5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 5 | 250 cycles > 3/4 | 9 |
| Ysterhout | Full aniline, pull-up, matte | Exotic | 4.5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 5 | 250 cycles > 3/4 | 5 |
| Kiepersol | Semi-aniline, rub-off finish | Buffalo | 4.5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 4 | 80 cycles > 3/4 | 5 |
| Kiaat | Full aniline, hand-buffed, matte | European | 4.5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 5 | 250 cycles > 3/4 | 11 |
| Tambotie | Semi-aniline, hand-buffed, semi-corrected, suede feel | Exotic | 5 m² | 1.1 to 1.3 mm | > 4 | 80 cycles > 3/4 | 7 |
| Kanniedood | Pure aniline, oil pull-up, glossy | European | 5.5 m² | 0.9 to 1.1 mm | > 5 | 250 cycles > 3/4 | 7 |
Common to all eight grades: chrome-tanned bovine hides · dry rub fastness 500 cycles, grey scale above 4 (EN ISO 11640) · flexing 50,000 dry cycles with no cracks (EN ISO 5402) · tear strength above 20 N (EN ISO 3377-1) · tensile strength above 10 N/mm² (EN ISO 3376) · water spotting above 3 (EN ISO 15700) · finish adhesion above 2 N/10 mm (EN ISO 11644) · burning behaviour to cigarette and match: pass to BS 5852:1979, BS EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2 · processed in conformity with REACH.
Light fastness is the blue scale (EN ISO 105-B02); wet rub is the grey scale after the stated cycles. Hide origin is the tannery’s own classification. Average hide sizes are exactly that: each hide is measured and invoiced at its actual area. Colour counts are the colours listed on each grade’s page; ask about others.
Leather Grades Explained
Not sure which grade suits your project? Here’s a quick guide.
Full & Pure Aniline
Dyed right through with aniline dyes and no pigment coating, so the natural grain, marks and texture of the hide stay fully visible. Softest touch, and it develops a patina with use. Best for premium furniture out of direct sun.
Semi-Aniline
A thin pigment layer over the aniline dye. Keeps much of the natural grain while giving better colour consistency and resistance to fading and staining. The practical middle ground, and four of our eight grades sit here.
Pigmented / Corrected Grain
A heavier pigment coat over a lightly buffed surface. Uniform colour on every hide, very durable, and easy to clean. The practical choice for high-traffic commercial and hospitality seating.
Which leather for which job?
The questions buyers ask us most, answered first.
Corrected grain or full grain: which do I need?
Corrected grain for hard use and exact colour matching; full or pure aniline where feel and natural character matter more than uniformity; semi-aniline in between.
Corrected grain (Soetdoring) is buffed and pigmented, so scars are hidden, every hide is the same colour, it is the most lightfast grade in the range, and it wipes clean. Full and pure aniline (Kiaat, Ysterhout, Kanniedood) show the hide as it grew, marks and all, and darken in direct sun. Semi-aniline (Geelhout, Olienhout, Tambotie, Kiepersol) keeps most of the grain with a thin protective coat.
Do you supply leather for car seats and interiors?
Yes, for selected grades. The tannery rates all eight for furniture; which hide suits automotive trim depends on the grade and the job, so tell Hugo what you are trimming and he will say which one to use.
Choosing between leather and fabric for a vehicle? Read our guide to car seat upholstery materials in South Africa.
Is it suitable for hospitality, contract seating and aircraft?
Hospitality and contract seating, yes: every grade passes the cigarette and match tests, BS 5852:1979, BS EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2, and the tannery rates them for domestic and contract furniture.
Aircraft interiors are certified to aviation rules, not furniture standards, and these furniture tests do not cover them. Ask us for the test reports and we will confirm with the tannery what is available for your certification.
How is leather priced, and is there a minimum order?
Per square metre, sold by the whole hide, and one hide is an order. A hide averages 4.5 to 5.5 square metres depending on the grade, and each hide is measured and invoiced at its actual area. Pricing is on request: WhatsApp Lizl with the grade and colour, or request a formal quote by email.
Do you supply upholsterers and manufacturers in bulk?
Yes. Single hides or bulk orders for workshops, furniture manufacturers and interior designers, with trade pricing on volume. Each grade comes from the same tannery batch after batch, so colour and finish match across an order.
Where are you, and do you deliver to Pretoria and the rest of South Africa?
We are in Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and courier hides to every major city and town in South Africa. Collection from the warehouse is welcome; remote areas are quoted on request.
How do I look after upholstery leather?
Keep it out of direct sun and away from heaters, clean spills straight away, and use only leather cleaner and protector. Blot a spill with paper without rubbing, then wipe with a damp white cloth from the edge of the stain inward and polish dry. Never use household cleaners, and test any product on a hidden spot first. For furniture at home, clean and re-protect every six months; for contract seating, on a regular programme.
How to order
Four steps. Phone, WhatsApp or email Smart Ikhaya, whichever suits you.
Choose your leather
Pick the leerSMART grade and colour that suit your project from the eight grades above.
Get your quote
Phone, WhatsApp or email Smart Ikhaya with the grade, the colour and the quantity. Lizl checks availability and sends a proforma invoice within one business day.
Delivery or collection
Nationwide courier delivery, or collect from Midrand.
Payment
Your order is placed when you accept the quote, and confirmed by EFT payment.
Ready to Find Your Leather?
Talk to Lizl for availability and pricing, or call Hugo for technical questions and hide sizing. Prefer email? Request a formal quote.
Why Choose leerSMART?
Ordered In For You
All eight leerSMART grades are ordered in through our Midrand warehouse. Lizl confirms availability and lead time before you commit.
Consistent Quality
Each hide is sourced from the same tannery partners, ensuring consistent thickness, finish, and colour match batch after batch.
Expert Advice
Hugo and Lizl know these leathers inside out. Call or WhatsApp for honest guidance on which grade best suits your application, budget, and usage requirements.
Nationwide Delivery
We courier to all major South African cities and towns. Remote areas are quoted on request. Collection from Midrand is always welcome.
Trade & Bulk Pricing
Upholsterers, manufacturers, and interior designers are welcome to enquire about trade pricing and larger hide quantities. We support your business.