In the 1960s, it became a popular advertising ploy to create fictional, charming characters to get consumers comfortable with new synthetic fabrics and furnishings. The Nauga, introduced in 1967, was a gentle but tough beast, with a hide that could withstand everyday wear-and-tear and was more economical than leather. Naugahyde, though patented in 1936, became more widely used for home furnishings due to the rise in mass production and consumerism in mid-century America. The Nauga appeared in print advertisements and even on the Johnny Carson Show and miniature dolls were made so that interested buyers could sample the wondrous qualities of Naugahyde.
1967 advertisement for Naugahyde
