Naugahyde (sometimes abbreviated to Nauga) is an American brand of artificial leather (or "pleather" from plastic leather). Naugahyde is a composite of a knit fabric backing and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic coating. It was developed by United States Rubber Company, and is now manufactured and sold by Uniroyal Engineered Products, LLC, a privately held company. Its name, first used as a trademark in 1936,[1] comes from the Borough of Naugatuck, Connecticut, where it was first produced. Uniroyal asserts that Naugahyde is one of the most popular premium pleathers.[citation needed] Naugahyde is manufactured in Stoughton, Wisconsin.[2]
Advertising campaign showing the fictional Nauga character. Note that the Nauga's skin is made of vinyl.
A marketing campaign of the 1960s and 1970s asserted humorously that Naugahyde was obtained from the skin of an animal called a "Nauga". The claim became an urban myth.[3] The campaign emphasized that, unlike other animals, which must typically be slaughtered to obtain their hides, Naugas can shed their skin without harm to themselves.[4] The Nauga doll, a squat, horned monster with a wide toothy grin, became popular in the 1960s and is still sold today.[5]
In popular culture [edit]
British singer-songwriter Al Stewart referred to Naugahyde in his song "Gina in The Kings Road" on his 2005 album A Beach Full of Shells. Set in the swinging '60s in London, the song is about a young lady, popular with many gentlemen, with whom he forms a liaison about which he says "Don't you cast aspersions on my Naugahyde affair". Naugahyde is also mentioned in the song, "Randy Scouse Git," by the Monkees. [6] The line from the song is, "Now they've darkened all the windows And the seats are naugahyde. I've been waiting for an hour, I can't find a place to hide." Allan Sherman's parody of "Chim Chim Cher-ee" contains the line "My chair is upholstered in real Naugahyde; When they killed that nauga, I sat down and cried."[7]
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