Designer Don Kwaning has developed a new material, called Lino Leather, that emulates the texture of leather for interior and furniture design.
The two versions of Lino Leather developed by Kwaning are the result of a series of material experiments with linoleum – known as lino – the compound material most commonly used as an affordable and hardwearing floor covering.
The first is a thicker version that emulates rumen leather, which is usually made from a cow's stomach, and has folds and a honeycomb structure. Kwaning has used this to create wall panels that have acoustic dampening properties.
The second is closer to saddle leather, a softer material more commonly used in commercial applications.

Kwaning's material is double-sided, with the usual textile backing that is needed to stabilise the material rolled between two layers of the compound so both sides have the same finish. Kwaning suggests it could be used in furniture design and upholstery. "I took out all the pigments to give the material more depth, which also gives the Linoleum Leather a more natural look since the materials that it is made from show in the colour," said Kwaning.
"The colours that you see are the colours of the wood-flour which is one of the Linoleum Leather components," he explained.

"Dark brown is a mixture of different wood species, yellow is pine wood and in the red sample I used one per cent of the regular amount of pigment that is used in linoleum. In ...