Fabric Decisions - Sewn Up

Do you pick the colour first or the texture? Probably you consider the scheme as a whole and then make the call to go for a statement contrast or find a harmonious tone. Maybe you can’t go wrong with either approach but what is really important is that you get the quality right. Beyond colour and texture, performance is what will count for ongoing enjoyment and peace of mind about how well your upholstered product will last. Alongside all the other Timage products that are marine-grade, our ranges of fabric are designed to perform in challenging environments, not just those patrolled by the fashion police.

Our main provider of fabrics is our Italian partner Italvipla. They have 55 years under their belts in the supply of materials that have largely been brought to market for the boat industry. This makes sense as they are based near lake Iseo in Lombardy, a truly inspirational setting for the boat industry that saw the birth of such famous yards as Riva. First hitting the style headlines in the 1960s, the brand continues to shine, and we continue to supply fabrics that include the original materials used on design icons like the Riva Aquarama.

We have worked with Italvipla since our company founder left the shores of lake Iseo and brought the best contacts in industry with him. Amongst the list of foundries, cabinet makers, lighting engineers, metalworkers, hardware and furnishing specialists, we keep the pressure on the materials and fabrics manufacturers to stay ahead of the game and develop new products.

You can see some of our standard materials on our website, but I am keen to highlight an area that really offers many benefits beyond the quality of the base materials. For me it is a prime example of the answer being greater than the sum of the parts: namely our pre-quilted fabrics.

We have all seen how luxurious a wall panel or armchair can look with a quilted diamond pattern design and it is more or less the norm for a high-end car interior. The quilt adds texture and feel, shows an evident level of extra-work and can make a form so much more interesting. The effect is traditionally achieved by the steady hand of a machinist who hopes to complete the panel without a costly wavy line of thread.

The options available from Timage fall in to two categories.

Firstly, we have the materials that are actually pre-sewn with a choice of quilt pattern. With these you can buy a whole roll that has been precisely sewn with the pattern and thread colour of your choice, eliminating any risk of ‘getting it wrong on the job’. For such orders we ask for a 2 roll minimum run [so 60m total]. We do however have a range of popular combinations that are ‘off the shelf options’ that can be purchased at just 5m runs. The website shows these choices.

Another pre-defined quilted fabric range is called Felix and this features a double-stitch 35mm diamond pattern in 8 colourways. This is a soft polyurethane that has good properties for wall linings and trim around furniture. The quilt also makes for a forgiving padded feel to cover plain board panels or surfaces of poor evenness.

The second category is also quilted but by means of an electro-welding process. You can achieve broadly the same look as real thread quilting but the bonus is the extra durability provided. The increased durability comes from the finished surface being more resistant to rub or abuse [perhaps from vigorous cleaning], as there are no stitch loops to snag. Additionally, the material remains entirely waterproof as the welded patterns do not break the material surface. Clearly the benefits of an entirely waterproof solution include protecting the upholstery substrate and avoiding the discomfort of realising – a second too late – that the outside seat cushion was not as dry as you thought! The welded patterns are possible on virtually all our fabric options and are subject to just a 15m order run. You can even select patterns that include a line of fake stitches in the welded seams.

All selections of stitch and heat welded pattern materials include the choice of density and therefore definition of quilt structure.

Our newest material to gain wide approval is Sileather (pictured above). Again, a material that can be used inside or out, it is uniquely 100% silicone. So as well as being more environmentally sustainable and recyclable, it is non-toxic, highly resistant to fire, abrasion, stubborn stains, UV damage, mould and bacteria. It is beautifully soft and available in many colours.Whether you are looking for new seating fabric, an inlay to furniture doors or a desk top, sun pads poolside or hotel headboards, I am sure there is a Timage marine-grade fabric to suit the job. We can even help with your colour selection or give advice on the best range to pick.For your next upholstery project, we’d like to think we’ve got it covered.