Established in London in 1938, luxury leather specialist, Alma, has forged an enviable reputation for itself as a brand synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. Today, its fine leathers grace the interiors of some of the finest restaurants, yachts and hotels in the form of wallcoverings, floor tiles, upholstery and even guest room accessories.
Alma started life in 1938 as a London-based leather manufacturer and wholesaler, selling hides to the UK’s garment manufacturers. In 1982, Saeed Khalique was appointed by Alma’s parent company, the Bolton”Textile Group, to improve marketing and sales within the group’s subsidiaries. This was to prove a key turning point for Alma as, in 1989, Saeed purchased the brand through a management buyout.
Relocating Alma to Whitechapel – the heart of the leather garment industry in”Brick Lane – Saeed proceeded to take the business from a £2m turnover UK-based company to a £10m international business with offices in Italy, Turkey and Hong Kong.
Not only did the company expand geographically, but it diversified from its strong tie with the fasion industry in 1997 with the launch of Alma Home, signalling a move into the manufacture of leather furniture and soft furnishings.
“Today, Alma designs and produces its innovative and wide-ranging product portfolio from its workshop in Whitechapel, exhibiting a diverse collection of hides, treatments and finishes in its spectacular Grade I-listed showroom in Mayfair.”
These leather-clad furniture, wall and floor designs were exhibited to great sucess at 100% Design in 1998, perhaps inspiring confidence for the launch of Alma Bespoke – a leather cladding service for interior designers and architects – in 1999.
The turn of the millennium saw Alma continue to consolidate its presence at the cutting edge of the architectural and interior design worlds – collaborating with prestigious designers such as John Rocha and Vivienne Westwood, exhibiting at the famed Salone di Mobile, and installing the first commercial leather floor for David Collins Interiors in the Blue Bar at the Berkeley Hotel.
Since then, Alma has continued to reach new heights, its project portfolio encompassing the design and build of the world’s first leather-clad building for the Qatari National Convention Centre, the cladding for the main lobby and apartments at One Hyde Park, and a lucrative contract to design and clad the interior of the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi.
Today, Alma designs and produces its innovative and wide-ranging product portfolio from its workshop in Whitechapel, exhibiting a diverse collection of hides, treatments and finishes in its spectacular Grade I-listed showroom in Mayfair.The company’s expertise currently takes a three-pronged approach, comprising Alma Studio, Alma Home and Alma Leather. Alma’s consultancy service, ‘Alma Studio’, allows interior designers, architects and specifiers worldwide to create bespoke, custom-made leather interior finishes.
Whether a leather door, staircase or furniture, Alma Studio oversees each stage, from planning through to production and installation.
‘Alma Home’, meanwhile, produces high quality handmade furniture and accessories, encompassing everything from console and dressing tables, to trinket trays and tablet cases. Each and every item is designed in the company’s workshop and made my hand by its talented team of craftsmen.
Finally, behind ‘Alma Leather’ is a team of specialists that can draw from a diverse collection of more than 100 different leathers at any one time to advise on a range of bespoke styles, finishes and applications. Client sectors include: international property, private residential, automotive and yachting, hotels, restaurants, bars, retail, fashion and transport.
Alma’s proven expertise and cutting-edge techniques are a perfect match for the hospitality industry, tapping into the significant demand for innovative surfacing solutions that don’t compromise on quality. With a raft of prestigious hospitality projects already under its belt, who knows what’s in store from this exciting company.
