Naugahyde’s durability, versatility endures

"My chair is upholstered in real Naugahyde/When they killed that Nauga, I sat down and cried!" Comedian Allan Sherman (1924-1973), American musician and parodist, "Chim Chim Cheree"

At the recent Hospitality Design Show, I revisited a product I hadn't thought about in years. But very much alive and well and showing off for hospitality designers was, drum roll, Naugahyde.

Hospitality shows are interesting to me because I like to see what products used in hotel and restaurant markets can be easily translated into residential design. Over the years, the list increases as the line between hospitality and residential products, fabrics and finishes have blurred.

Hotels and restaurants want to look like your home and a lot of us want our homes to look like them. So there you go -- a match made in design heaven.

So, back to Naugahyde. Uniroyal Engineered Products is the maker, and according to its materials, the Naugahyde brand "is known throughout the world as the premier choice for many types of vinyl applications." You've probably seen Naugahyde products for years but maybe didn't realize exactly what it was. It feels and looks a lot like leather, but alas, it is not. It's "pleather," made from vinyl polymer-coated plastic.

Walking past the Naugahyde booth, I was instantly drawn in by the darling little Naugas hanging around. These are charming little creatures made from Naugahyde and while their appearance is endearing, the marketing campaign begun in their infancy is awesome.

According to Wikipedia, "In the 1960s and 1970s it was asserted humorously that Naugahyde was obtained from the shed skin of an animal known as a "Nauga"; the claim became a popular urban myth. The campaign emphasized that, unlike other animals, which must typically be slaughtered to obtain their hides, Naugas can shed their skin without harm to themselves."

While I wanted to know more about Naugahyde from the folks in the booth, I was keen to have my very own Nauga. And so it was that I became the proud mama to my Nauga (No. 830), born to Naugahyde on Sept. 1, 2007. The official birth certificate was mailed to me as proof of my little Nauga's heritage.

Again, back to Naugahyde. In the residential market, Naugahyde is used for chairs, recliners, sofas, bar stools and a variety of other seating applications. It's durable, easy to clean with soap and water, stain and weather resistant and flame retardant; and the water-based Advanced BeautyGard top treatment is produced without toxic solvents.

The next time you're in your favorite furniture store, ask about Naugahyde. It's been a staple of furniture coverings for many years but without a lot of fanfare. And, if you have upholstered pieces you want to re-cover, and are looking for a long-lasting, hard-working material, ask your local upholsterer or workroom for information on this product.

And, lastly, if you are looking to expand your pet family, visit www.Naugahyde.com to see how you can have your very own Nauga. They don't eat much, don't have to be walked and come with a lot of history and a really cute smile.

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and past president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears regularly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.