Page 33 - Interface September Issue 2025

Popular textiles Upholstery fabrics
Cotton is perhaps the best-known When it comes to furniture, textiles take
and most widely used textile. on a different but equally important
Harvested from cotton plants, it role. Upholstery fabrics shape the style
comes in several varieties — short- of a piece, determine how easy it is to
staple, long-staple, and extra-long maintain, and contribute significantly to
staple, such as Egyptian, Turkish, durability. In fact, the cost of upholstery
and Pima cotton. The length of the materials often makes up the largest
fibre determines its durability and percentage of the furniture itself.
softness. Longer staples produce
stronger, smoother fabrics, which is Recent developments in upholstery
why garments made from them are focus on sustainability, recycling, and
often more expensive. Depending efficiency. Innovations in materials,
on how it is manufactured, weaving methods, and recycling
cotton can range from light and practices are changing the industry,
breathable to warm and insulating. with growing emphasis on minimising
waste and reusing textile offcuts.
Denim, traditionally made from Research is even exploring the use of
100% cotton, is another global textile waste in applications such as
staple. Using a distinctive weaving acoustic insulation.
technique, denim is prized for its
durability and versatility, best known The choice available to manufacturers
in jeans and jackets. Its name and consumers is enormous.
comes from “serge de Nîmes,” a Traditional fibres like wool and
fabric once produced in Nîmes, cotton remain reliable, while viscose
France. and synthetics — including nylon,
polyester, acrylic, polyethylene, and
Linen, spun from the flax plant, is polypropylene — offer even more
one of the oldest and most valued variety. Many pieces now combine
natural fibres. It is laborious to several fibres for performance and
cultivate: the fibre sits between texture. Add to this the countless
the bark and core of the flax stem, variations in colour, pattern, and
and must be carefully separated weave, and the options are virtually
after controlled rotting and drying. limitless. Of course, with so many
Although linen fibres are not elastic choices, the challenge lies in making
and break easily, the fabric is an informed decision — because the
prized for its exceptional strength, wrong decision can create costly
moisture-wicking qualities, and problems for both manufacturers and
timeless elegance. homeowners.

INTERIOR DÉCOR Styles and Trends | 31