Ford Finds Leather Hoard, Gifts It to Local Businesses
Tucked away in a basement set for demolition, Ford’s leather hoard originally used for prototypes and show cars, worth over $100,000.
You know the right materials can make a Ford’s interior. While there’s nothing wrong with cloth, a full leather interior is where it’s at. The smell. The feel. The total luxurious vibe leather conveys makes any pony a welcome place to sit within.
Of course, not every bit of leather hide gets used to make seats and dashes. Alas, a lot of good-quality leather ends up locked away, too small for factory use. Such was the case with a hoard Ford rediscovered recently. According to the Detroit Free Press, the leather hoard lived in a basement set for demolition. Now, it all has a second life.
“It kind of forced our hand a bit, with the campus transformation,” Ford 3D process director Jim Conner said. “We have big areas where we’ve stored stuff for a long time. We knew we had these but we didn’t realize the type or quantity. These are super high quality leather hides, the highest quality.”
And how! The leather hoard, used to make interiors for prototypes and show cars, is worth over $100,000. Talk about high-value scrap, y’all! Of course, all this leather is too small to make use of on the assembly line, per the Free Press. Thus, Connor had to find a new home for the hoard at the Ford Product Development Center in Dearborn, Michigan. He wound up finding two good homes, both local, both making the lives of others better.
“Every piece has character and purpose, just like the people who make it. Right here in Detroit,” said Jarret Schlaff, co-founder and CEO of Pingree Detroit. “We’ve diverted over 10 tons of leather from the landfill thus far. and will put this leather to good use in our new pet, home and footwear collections”
Pingree Detroit sells everything from coasters to sneakers, all handmade, all leather. The company employs a team of U.S. military veterans and civilians to create these handmade gems. The larger hides from Ford’s hoard alone are good for five to six pairs of sneakers per hide.
“We are just starting to dream of all the possibilities that having a large quantity of leather will mean,” said Mend On The Move founder Joanne Ewald. “The ideas are endless.”
The second beneficiary of Ford’s leather hoard, Mend On The Move employs survivors of abuse to create handmade small items, including jewelry and key chains. The company recently acquired an industrial sewing machine, which will be used to transform their leather hides into pillows and plant wraps.
“We’re upcycling and keeping materials out of landfills and doing the right thing,” said Conner. “We’re taking care of local companies. It’s just a pretty cool story all the way around.”
Photos: Detroit Free Press
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