The Brass Button Custom Upholstery has preferred professional relationships with quality fabric providers. Please note that the quality of the fabric on the furniture predicts the wear of your furniture. It’s always best to use the highest quality fabric and materials you can afford to get the highest durability from your fabric.

Generally speaking, when looking for fabric look for the Wyzenbeek or Martindale performance rating. The Wyzenbeek rating tends to be used in North America. A high “double rub” rate allows consumers to know how durable the fabric is going to be. For upholstery purposes I prefer to work with Wyzenbeek ratings above 30,000.

Other factors, from fiber content to weave can impact durability. Ask me about this!

When looking at fabrics you may see terms like “performance” and possibly “Crypton.” A performance fabric is one that is engineered for stain resistance. The word “Crypton” is a brand name for a performance fabric. (Like Kleenex is a brand name for tissue.). 

While I do stock fabric swatches and swatch books, I recommend the client begin with the preferred suppliers’ websites below. Begin by finding a color or pattern you like online. Let me know when you’ve found something you like. I can supply swatches and current prices for the fabric. Fabric costs also vary depending on materials, labor, shipping, etc.

Fabric costs vary widely, but generally, for high quality fabrics you can expect to pay anywhere from $40 a yard to upwards of $200 a yard for high quality designer fabrics. 

Customer’s Own Materials

Once in a while clients prefer to use their own fabrics sourced outside of The Brass Button Preferred Suppliers. Please note I do not guarantee fabrics purchased outside of these preferred suppliers. There is an upcharge of $18/yard to source your own fabric outside of The Brass Button Custom Upholstery. I must approve any materials or fabrics purchased outside The Brass Button Custom Upholstery prior to acceptance of the work. My suppliers are preferred because they are reliable, generally cost effective, responsive to client feedback and concerns, guaranteed, and high quality. 

Problems I have experienced with client’s own materials include:

• Fabric printed “off grain” (e.g. not straight - think about crooked stripes). Off grain fabrics are impossible to upholster well or sew and do a quality job.

• Fabrics that were folded rather than rolled. These fabrics may have permanent creases in them.

• Velvets where the fabrics were crushed at the end of the roll (e.g. permanent damage to the nap)

• Velvets that were printed rather than woven. In this case the color was applied on top of the velvet and white was visible beneath the print when the fabric was rubbed one direction or another. 

• Discount fabrics are often second quality, without the durability expected from a high, first quality fabric.

• Running out of fabric and inability to order more from the same dye lot.

• Vintage fabrics with sun rot, mildew, holes, or stains.

The quality of the work begins with quality materials.