Bonded leather is a composite material made from shredded leather fibres mixed with binders and finished with a surface coating, while genuine leather is cut from animal hide. In practice, the main difference is durability and ageing: bonded material can look tidy at first but is more likely to crack, peel or wear through, while genuine leather usually lasts longer and develops character as it ages.
On this page
- What the terms really mean
- How to choose between reconstructed and real leather
- Bonded leather and genuine leather: the decisive criteria
- Examples from this shop that show the difference clearly
- What it costs and what delivery involves
- Common mistakes buyers make
- Frequently asked questions
If you are choosing furniture, the most useful question is not which label sounds better, but what material is actually on the parts you touch every day. On this shop, the lounge chair and ottoman range is upholstered in 100% aniline leather on every part, not PU or bonded material, while the leather office-chair range uses genuine leather on the seat and the front of the backrest, with a colour-matched matching leather on the underside and outer back.
What the terms really mean
These labels are often confused because they all contain the word “leather”, but they describe different constructions.
Bonded leather is made by combining leather offcuts or fibres with adhesives, then applying that mixture to a backing and embossing or coating the top so it looks more uniform. It contains leather content, but it is not a continuous piece of hide.
Genuine leather is real hide. That label can cover several grades and finishes, so it does not automatically tell you everything about softness or thickness, but it does mean the seating surface is leather rather than a reconstructed sheet.
Aniline leather is a type of real leather with a more natural surface and less heavy coating. The shop’s lounge-chair range uses 100% aniline leather on every part. If you want the background on that finish, see Aniline Leather: What It Is and How to Care for It.
For design background on mid-century seating materials and finishes, the Museum of Modern Art is a useful neutral reference.
How to choose between reconstructed and real leather
Start with use, not marketing terms. A chair used every day needs a surface that can cope with repeated contact on the seat, front edge and backrest. That is where real leather usually makes a clearer long-term case.
Next, read the material description line by line. If a listing says PU leather, treat it as PU leather. If it says mesh, treat it as mesh. If it says leather, check whether that means every part is leather or only the contact areas. This shop is specific about that distinction.
In the Eames Lounge Chairs category there are 39 models priced from €275 to €1199, with an example size of 84 x 85 x 89 cm. Every lounge chair and ottoman version in that range — standard, premium waxy, tall/XL, chair only and ottoman only — is upholstered in 100% aniline leather on every part.
In the Eames Office Chairs category there are 38 models priced from €179 to €409, with an example size of 59 x 61 x 90 cm. The leather office chairs have genuine leather on the seat and the front of the backrest, with a colour-matched matching leather on the underside and outer back. The mesh office chairs are mesh, and the D266 is PU leather rather than leather.
In the Dining Chairs category there are 17 models priced from €90 to €249, with an example size of 47 x 53 x 83 cm. For example, the Set of Two Eames DSW Chairs Replica PU Leather Black is €90, 47 x 53 x 83 cm (W x L x H), and the Set of Four Eames DSW Chairs Replica PU Leather Black is €150, 47 x 53 x 83 cm (W x L x H). Those are sold as PU leather, which is clearer than calling them leather.
Bonded leather and genuine leather: the decisive criteria
The first decisive criterion is how the material is made. Real leather is a hide; reconstructed material is a mix of leather fibres and binders. That affects how the surface responds to flex, pressure and wear.
The second is how it tends to age. Real leather usually gains creases, patina and variation. Reconstructed surfaces are more likely to fail at the top layer, especially where the seat bends. That difference matters more than the initial showroom look.
The third is what part of the chair uses which material. A seller may accurately say “leather” even if only the contact areas are leather. That is not the same thing as all-over leather upholstery.
The fourth is care expectations. On this shop’s lounge chairs, care is simple: wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth, never use abrasive or solvent cleaners, and keep the leather out of direct sun, especially white leather.
The fifth is price in relation to construction. If you are paying for real leather, it helps to know whether you are getting all-over aniline leather, contact-area leather, PU leather, or something else entirely.
| Category | Models | Price range | Example size | What it tells you about materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designer Lighting | 4 | €190–€479 | 50 x 50 x 20 cm | Lighting category, not upholstery |
| Le Corbusier | 8 | €639–€849 | 56 x 160 x 69 cm | Material depends on the product listing |
| Dining Chairs | 17 | €90–€249 | 47 x 53 x 83 cm | Includes PU leather options sold as PU leather |
| Eames Lounge Chairs | 39 | €275–€1199 | 84 x 85 x 89 cm | Every lounge chair and ottoman version uses 100% aniline leather on every part |
| Eames Office Chairs | 38 | €179–€409 | 59 x 61 x 90 cm | Leather models use genuine leather on contact areas; mesh and PU models are clearly separate |
| Rocking Chairs | 3 | €149–€149 | 63 x 81 x 76 cm | Check each listing for the exact material |
| Accessories | 6 | €139–€479 | 50 x 50 x 20 cm | Accessory category, not upholstery-led |
| Special Offers | 13 | €90–€849 | 72 x 70 x 91 cm | Mixed category; check each product description for exact materials |
Examples from this shop that show the difference clearly
If you want an all-over real-leather lounge chair, the product pages are direct. The Classic Charles Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Black Leather – Ebony Ash Wood Black is €809, 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H).
The Classic Charles Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Tan Brown Leather – Rose Wood Normal Base is €819, 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H). The Classic Charles Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Dark Brown Leather – Walnut Normal Base is €868, 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H).
Premium options include the Premium Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Waxy Camel Polished Leather Walnut Wood at €999, 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H), the Premium Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Waxy Chocolate Polished Leather Walnut Wood at €999, 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H), and the Premium Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica Waxy Dark Green Polished Leather Rose Wood at €999, 87 x 85 x 84 cm (W x L x H).
If you need the taller format, the Tall Version Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica – White – Rose Wood is €949, 84 x 85 x 89 cm (W x L x H).
Other tall options include the Tall Version Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica – Black – Walnut Wood at €979, 84 x 85 x 89 cm (W x L x H), the Tall Version Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica – Ivory – Walnut Wood at €1049, 84 x 85 x 89 cm (W x L x H), and the Tall Version Eames Lounge Chair And Ottoman Replica – Waxy Brown – Walnut Wood at €1199, 84 x 85 x 89 cm (W x L x H).
If you are comparing leather types across product families, also see What is Eames lounge chair leather?. For room-planning context rather than material science, How to Choose the Right Leather Armchair helps with the broader selection process.
What it costs and what delivery involves
Price tells you something, but only when read alongside the material note. In this shop, the lowest lounge-chair-category price is €275 and the highest is €1199. Dining-chair PU leather sets start at €90. Leather office chairs sit within the office-chair category range of €179 to €409.
Delivery terms are published shop-wide. Delivery is free, with no minimum order value, to the 25 countries available at checkout: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The price shown is the price paid, with no extra charge added at checkout and no customs or handling charge collected on delivery in those countries. Orders are dispatched within 1–2 working days of confirmation and delivered by DPD, fully tracked. Delivery typically arrives within 6–9 working days door to door, and tracking details are emailed as soon as the order is dispatched.
Most single-product orders ship in one package. Larger items may arrive in several boxes; a lounge chair and ottoman set typically ships in two packages. Multi-item orders may be split across deliveries but are dispatched together. Weekend delivery is not part of the standard service.
Every piece is inspected by the shop’s own team before it is boxed for dispatch. A lounge chair with ottoman typically ships in two packages, and single chairs usually in one. Keep the original packaging during the 14-day return window because returns must be repacked in it.
Common mistakes buyers make
Mistake 1: assuming all “leather” is the same. It is not. Real leather, aniline leather, PU leather and reconstructed sheets behave differently in use.
Mistake 2: missing the contact-area detail. On office chairs, a listing can accurately use leather for the seat and front backrest while another matching material is used elsewhere. That is different from all-over leather upholstery.
Mistake 3: treating a low price as proof of value. A lower price may simply reflect a different material construction. Compare what covers the parts you sit on and touch most.
Mistake 4: ignoring care requirements. White leather and other pale shades need the same gentle cleaning approach as darker leather, plus sensible placement away from direct sun.
Mistake 5: throwing away the box too soon. Returns require the original packaging during the 14-day return window, so keep it until you know the item is staying.
Frequently asked questions
Does this shop sell bonded material?
No lounge chair or ottoman in this shop uses it. The lounge chair and ottoman range is upholstered in 100% aniline leather on every part. PU leather models are sold as PU leather, and mesh models are sold as mesh.
Are all office chairs here all-over genuine leather?
No. The leather office chairs have genuine leather on the seat and the front of the backrest, with a colour-matched matching leather on the underside and outer back. Mesh office chairs are mesh, and the D266 is PU leather.
What if the item arrives damaged or wrong?
Report it within 14 days with a few photos by emailing support@decomica.com. If an item arrives faulty, damaged in transit or wrong, the return is free: DPD collects it from your door and the shop sends a replacement or a full refund.
What if I change my mind?
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return. Items must be unused, in their original packaging, and nothing may be sent back without return authorisation from support@decomica.com. For a change of mind, the refund is made minus a €40 return fee, which covers the DPD collection.
Decomica sells reproductions inspired by mid-century designs, identified as such on every product page; they are not made, licensed or endorsed by the original manufacturers or licence holders. The D-series office chairs are Decomica’s own designs.
Last checked: 24 October 2026
Author: Decomica Editorial
