And no, we’re obviously not talking about artificial leather here. But about carefully selected, high-quality natural leather and about the works of celebrated designers. Brought together by a man who has a special relationship with the material of leather and its processing. The fact that Bill Amberg enriched his company’s portfolio with a trailblazing innovation is no surprise – the result, however, is even more fascinating. He transfers the art creations onto leather using state-of-the-art digital printing technology, letting colour and material flow into one another so that the finely grained soft surface remains, becoming the foundation for artistic interior design.
The surface area of one of the Spanish premium cowhides used for the Bill Amberg Print Collection extends to around five square metres. They have very sophisticated properties in terms of grain, quality and versatility that Amberg uses for the printing process. Born in Northampton, the centre of the British shoemaking industry, Amberg is a specialist with 30 years’ experience in the leather industry. He has been fascinated with leather since his childhood and from this passion, he has created a leading company for tailormade leather products: Bill Amberg Studio. Bags, accessories, cars, ships, lifestyle or the hotel business – his expertise is legendary. These days it’s primarily solutions in the field of interior design that underline his supremacy: walls and floor coverings, stairs, furniture and interior furnishings. With the Bill Amberg Print series, integrating leather into interior spaces takes on a whole new dimension: the superb natural material combined with the modern beauty of internationally renowned designers – an exciting variety of unique possibilities for interior design.
Tom Dixon is one of the celebrated artists whose designs enhance the fine leather. For Bill Amberg Print he has designed his own series of motifs, which caused a sensation with their unexpected hyperrealism. At the same time, deliberately exaggerated gestures make an unconventional yet playful statement. The finished print can be used in various ways, for example as furniture upholstery – as with the Wingback Micro Chair armchair with its 'Hair' leather cover. Looking at it, you can identify the vision and mission behind this partnership: a wonderful alchemy of modern art and originality, of craftsmanship and high-tech. The colours and compositions on the leather are as diverse as the creative artists themselves. Alexandra Champalimaud, Marcel Wanders, Bethan Gray and Fay Toogood – they are among a group of artists creating individual and unmistakeable styles with their personal signature.
At least since the 'Rocket Bag' – his iconic masterpiece and museum exhibit (admire it in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London) – the name Bill Amberg has been a byword for craftsmanship and top quality worldwide. High quality is both a philosophy and a principle, meaning that carefully thought-out processes lie behind each product. This also applies to the Print Collection: Each design is photographed and forwarded to the in-house special printing machine as a high-resolution digital file. This not only manages to print the large surface area of the hide in one piece, it also achieves a deep colouration of the leather. Here too, a fundamental principle applies: both in the choice of raw material, which is of exclusively European origin, and in the tanning process, Bill Amberg Print prioritises responsibility and sustainability. The watery white tanning agent has gold certification from the Leather Working Group and is therefore proven to be environmentally aware. And the overall result of this liaison between art x leather? Intensive and exclusive, thanks to the design. Divine, naturally, because the finish of the printed leather is free of heavy surface layers. Delicate, colourfast and authentic, every surface area and every item that is enhanced in this way has an incomparable feel. Wherever this designer leather is used: it’s sure to bring a touch of luxury.
