The foremost creator of leather for interiors, Edelman was founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife Arthur and Teddy Edelman with an aim to source premium leather from Western Europe for every interior application. Today Edelman's collection celebrates the integrity and natural beauty of leather through an encyclopedic range of texture, color, and technique.
Images: Nick Ballón
Arthur Edelman and Theodora (Teddy) Joffe met at Sarah Lawrence College and married just days following their graduation. In the early years of their marriage, they moved to New York City to begin their family, which eventually included six children, and joined Teddy's family leather company Fleming-Joffe, where they developed a unique approach to leather through Arthur's gift for storytelling as a trained actor and Teddy's talent as a colorist.
Fleming-Joffe showroom awning by Andy Warhol, 1960.
Under their direction, Fleming-Joffe collaborated with notable creatives of the time, including American artist Andy Warhol who created the brand's whimsical visual identity as its graphic designer from 1958 to 1964, and Italian artist Piero Fornasetti, who illustrated a collection of porcelain plates featuring original poems by Ogden Nash.
Illustration by Andy Warhol, 1962.
Illustration by Andy Warhol.
Illustration by Andy Warhol, 1980.
Custom painted light fixture by Andy Warhol.
A leather glove envelope.
Woolworth Building—Fleming-Joffe, founding showroom—by Angelo Rizzuto, 1949.
Fleming-Joffe interior, 1965.
Illustration by Andy Warhol.
Porcelain plate by Piero Fornasetti, ca. 1960s-70s. Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.
Porcelain plate by Piero Fornasetti, ca. 1960s-70s. Courtesy of the RISD Museum, Providence, RI.
Oath by Ilse Crawford.
Guided by generations of expertise, Arthur and Teddy founded Edelman to share their love and knowledge of leather with the interiors industry.
Through rigorous sourcing and the development of pioneering techniques, Edelman became a leader in luxury leather with a comprehensive breadth of products for interiors and an uncompromising commitment to premium raw materials.
Fleming-Joffe marketing materials, 1956-1958.
Today, Edelman's design studio celebrates the warmth and integrity of leather as an enduring natural material.
Edelman prioritizes leather of exceptional quality—beginning with its original condition before any tanning, dyeing, or finishing occurs. A byproduct of the meat industry, all hides are sourced from Western Europe where strict regulation of animal welfare, including humane cattle and optimal veterinarian practices, ensures the integrity of premium raw materials. The design studio works with boutique, family-owned tanneries selected for their ability to produce the best of each desired quality and opts for minimal and nuanced finishing to highlight the inherent natural beauty of leather.
Images: Nick Ballón
Led by an approach that emphasizes tactility and honesty, the design studio carefully updates the offering of products and techniques for elevated hands, textures, and palettes while honoring Edelman's longstanding commitment to leather.