Flamingo effect
A rare leather problem of pigmented, light smooth leather is called "flamingo effect". When the flamingo effect appears, the surface colour only changes to pink in concealed areas (contact surfaces of the pads against each other on the grain side). It also appears to be important for the effect that the surface is a contact area of leather grain side to leather grain side. Darkness alone does not trigger the phenomenon.
The discolorations are not immediately recognizable, but disturbing. Usually relatively new furniture is affected.
The surface pigmentation of the leather then becomes a reddish or pinkish. Rare are yellowish discolorations. The reason for this colour change has not been definitively clarified. So far, this phenomenon has happened to furniture leather and within the first years after the purchase. The phenomenon also occurs when the leather is stored and the grain sides are in direct contact.
After extended storage of folded leather, the light-coloured leather becomes reddish in the contact area of the pigmentation.
An explanation for this phenomenon may be a change in the pigment colour or a bleeding of dyes from the leather into the surface pigmentation. Not explainable is that only the contact areas of the grain side are affected and not every leather.
'The xenon test shows that reddish discoloration is significantly reduced by UV irradiation.
Therefore, according to the current state, there is no solution except to replace the leather or to bleach it by UV light. If leather is replaced, the same leather should not be used, as otherwise the effect will reappear.
Other leather damages
- Typical leather damages such as aging, fading, fat stains, jeans discoloration etc.
- Dye transfer from leather
- Typical damage to PU leather in the furniture area
- Bronzing: Metallic glimmer on new leather
- Glue penetration from the back side to the visible side of the leather
- Mouldy leather
- Fat marks on leather
Additional information
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