Materials: A closer look at the materials that shape our designs

At Turbulent Labs, each material is chosen with care to bring both function and refinement to every piece. From supple leathers to high-performance foams, every component is integral to our product's design, durability, and user experience. Here’s a closer look at the materials that define our collection.

We source our full-grain Nappa leather from Italy, renowned for its softness, durability, and luxurious appearance. The origin of “Nappa leather” dates back to Napa, California, where it was first created in 1875. This leather is dyed with water-soluble colorants, giving it vibrant hues while preserving the natural texture and markings of the hide, keeping the original, unaltered grain of the leather.

This unaltered surface offers a buttery soft feel, yet robust enough to withstand daily wear. Nappa leather is used extensively in high-end goods and luxury car interiors, with its beauty enhanced over time as it develops a natural patina.

Our designs also feature Italian suede, known for its fine brushed texture. Unlike typical suedes, our Italian suede is waterproofed, making it highly practical for everyday use. This suede is crafted from the underside of the hide, resulting in a soft, velvety finish that’s perfect for lining and base applications, such as desk mats, wrist rests, and valet trays.

Through extensive testing, we evaluated dozens of open-cell polymer foams from various manufacturers, selecting specific types for each design.

For headbands and the top cushioning of wrist rests, we use breathable open-cell foams in different thicknesses to provide a soft, compressible surface that molds comfortably for ergonomic support. The core of our keyboard wrist rests incorporates high-density molded foams—commonly used in motorsports seating for superior impact absorption and resilience. This dense foam maintains its shape and structure over time, resisting sinking, while ensuring consistent support and comfort during extended use and preserving the natural breathability of leather.

Additionally, for trays and mousepads, we utilize dense EVA foams to create a firm yet cushioned surface, ideal for stability and durability.

While the use of memory foam is popular for items like earpads and mattresses, we found it surprisingly unsuited for wrist rests and headbands. Memory foam can initially feel incredibly soft but quickly sinks, especially when the foam thickness is relatively thin, as in the case of headbands and wrist rests. This results in it bottoming out and losing its cushioning and support just minutes into use. Additionally, memory foam isn’t breathable, which defeats the purpose of using leather—a naturally breathable material that helps keep surfaces cool and comfortable.

For stitching, we rely on German Serafil polyester threads. This is the same preferred thread specified by OEM automotive manufacturers like Bentley, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Porsche due to its high breaking strength and durability against abrasion. Each of our products are crafted using these premium threads on Japanese industrial sewing machines, ensuring precision and quality in every stitch.

Our hardware includes custom-ordered PRYM brass snap buttons for our cable snaps, trays, and headbands, chosen for their durability and satisfying snap. Each button, made of brass with matte black caps, is coated with a protective anti-acid lacquer specifically designed for use with leather goods.

Each of these materials plays an essential role in our designs, contributing to the aesthetic, feel, and longevity of our products. Carefully curated over the years, we constantly strive to discover better materials and update our designs as we progress on this journey.