With environmental concerns becoming increasingly prevalent in both popular culture and mainstream news, we are looking to address and incorporate sustainability measures in as much of our routines as possible. It is the little things we do not expect to have a positive impact that always do. That being said, sustainability is really a huge element of the process in the upholstery industry – whether we realize it or not.

This is not a warning or threat. It is an asset for reupholstery measures.

Misconceptions About Upholstery and the Environment
Luxury auto brands like Chrysler, BMW, Ram, and Fiat have all been particularly involved in this move toward sustainability alternatives. For most, they have been incorporating lower impact selections in their trim and detail work for at least the last five years. This shift has become so strong that many of these once ‘alternatives’ are no longer substitutes but rather standard practice in design and execution processes.

Many individuals also assume that sustainable efforts result in a dilution or dismissal of quality. UCLA School of Management and UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability professor Magali Delmas performed research demonstrating that quality, luxury, and function are actually integrated very easily and commonly with sustainable products and services.

Consumer Power
Upholstered furniture, decor, vehicles, offices, or homes are inherently acting with sustainable measures in mind. This is because when an item is reupholstered, it is quite literally reusing and repurposing an existing item instead of purchasing and/or providing demand for another item.

Think of it this way:Instead of pooling your time and money into shopping around for another expensive sports car, you decide to look into updating and reviving the niche classic car you currently own. Now, the vehicle you own is not going to the dump or being sold off, further saturating the market with more vehicles. The only additions you require are completely specialized refurbishments toward your vehicle with minimal fabric, textiles, or paneling excess. Ultimately, reupholstery allows you to reinvent the article you already have with nuanced and personalized features that better suit your needs as well as the environment’s needs.

On top of all of this, sometimes our favorite things have become investments but their value is built on sentimental factors, not just monetary expense. Maintaining and even improving upon that worth with contemporary relevance or nostalgic restoration can significantly benefit the item or the experience with it.

Sustainability and Increased ChoiceSome argue that reupholstery is just sticking a band aid on a bigger problem. Others claim that it is adding to the problem. Ultimately, though, there are so many alternative products available in the market that work the same, if not better, than the originals…. And they are sustainable!

This offers individual customers the opportunity to self-select sustainable textiles and accessory features that not only improve their experience but work more efficiently for the environment. This also challenges the industry’s market to consider more environmentally conscious practices and operations through unique consumer populations driving demand with sustainable buying trends. The industry needs to suit the buying power of individuals, not the other way around.

Taking the decision-making power back into your hands by considering and asking your upholstery professional about what sustainable measures you can take to elevate your collections and experiences can give you the luxury comfort you have been seeking.

It is June. The sun is shining. The skies are clear. The birds just might even be chirping. As the spring comes to a close, all we want to do is enjoy the nice weather with some of our favorite activities. Whether that time is spent enjoying drinks on the deck, a trip to the reservoir with the boat, or an early evening dinner on your favorite restaurant’s patio, we are all looking for a lifestyle upgrade to kickstart the summer. 

While seasonal changes never seem abrupt, their consequences tend to make more of an impact than anticipated. As such, the wear and tear from seasonal weather – precipitation, temperature, humidity, etc. – tend to drag down the overall atmosphere of the spaces we look to for comfort or leisure. 


Personal Upholstery
Think about the nicest hotel you’ve stayed in.

It is your favorite because of its consistency, reliability, specialty, and luxury. Each piece of the puzzle fits perfectly without gaps in its aesthetic that might distract from your fulfillment of adventure, community, concentration, relaxation, or peace of mind. These organizations are able to assist in the realization of your goals because each detail smoothly coincides with the next. The same can be said for your favorite restaurant or doctor’s office. When you are comfortable in the space, your overall experience is reinforced and improved. 

However, you probably do not think about the ‘why’ or ‘how’ when your ideal experience is achieved because of the seamlessness of those finer details. Weathered upholstery diminishes the guest experience because the detail work is left for another day… a day that probably won’t ever happen. Investing in your summer experiences with traditional upholstery updates and even specialty refurbishments allows you to see past previous complications so that you might allow yourself to genuinely sit back and relax.


Commercial Upholstery
With peak seasons for weddings, family reunions, travel, entrepreneurial expansion, and even popular national and international holidays around the corner, it is important that businesses are mindful of the experience they are giving versus the experience they seek to provide. Whether you need to update seasonally or annually, completely ignoring the impact of upholstery leaves irrefutable profit at the door. Simply put, small oversights in something like interior upholstery can deter guests and even negate business development. 

 Signs to look out for when considering an upholstery upgrade are:

• Discoloration
• Fraying
• Cracking
• Weakened padding/stuffing

Commercial upholstery gives a space a common denominator, uniting professional tastes with comfort and clarity. ‘Commercial enterprises’ is a general term encompassing the broad spectrum of businesses. These organizations inevitably look differently, operate differently, and serve different purposes. However, achieving a balance between simple and contemporary aesthetic features is typically the universal goal. Whether the environment requires leather, cloth, or alternative upholstery, aligning their business offering with their display is vital to the mood of the space.

There are also options for unusual pieces or requests. Specialty refurbishment can also serve to give an office, vehicle, or alternative living space the exclusivity for its own, unique personality. Enhancing and exaggerating the distinct elements within a space can not only build stronger associations among guests, visitors, or clients. These specialty pieces can even serve as a positive influence within the office as well. When employees are engaged by their environment, they produce more effectively and inventively. 

All in all, the opportunities posed by reinventing or revamping the interior of your office are limitless. Interior upholstery bolsters your bottom line as a business. Demonstrating intention with your office space provides context for clients, employees, and prospects for the expectation of refinement in the work you do.