Decide where the material will be used
The seat cushion, backrest and side sections of a seat can be subject to different stresses. Before choosing a collection, decide which parts will be upholstered and check how they are constructed. For a restoration, photographs, templates and a piece of the original material can help.
Tell your adviser whether you are restoring a private car, making seat covers or preparing a larger production run. The level of use, the appearance you want and any documentation requirements will help narrow down the choice.
Compare properties as well as photographs
Check the collection’s intended use, abrasion resistance, colour fastness and care recommendations. If the manufacturer provides test results, compare data obtained using the same method.
Composition and fabric weight help describe a material, but do not confirm its quality on their own. What matters is a combination of properties that suits your application.
For projects with specific requirements, ask for documentation for the exact version of the material. Our guide to fabric specifications explains this in more detail.
Examine a sample of the final material
A sample lets you assess the texture, softness and how the colour looks inside the car. Compare it with the door panels, dashboard and other interior elements. Check its appearance in daylight and under the cabin lighting.
If the material will be laminated, work with a sample after lamination. The foam and technical backing can change its thickness and how it behaves during sewing and fitting.
Ask your upholsterer to make a trial seam. Check the pattern direction, how the material follows curves and how it fits the seat structure.
Plan the cutting layout and your order
The quantity required depends on the templates, roll width, seam allowances and pattern direction. Measuring the seat surface alone does not account for the full cutting layout.
Before buying, confirm the quantity and final material specification with your upholsterer. When speaking to an adviser, give the collection name, colour, backing and project requirements.
Useful things to prepare
Photographs of the interior, a sample of the existing upholstery, details of the lamination and your planned sewing method.
