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A Softer Touch

New wrinkles in automotive upholstery

Have you ever checked out your car's reflection in a storefront window as you're driving by? You're probably like most people and like to see how your ride looks on you, like a new suit or a pair of jeans. Taking that car-as-clothing analogy one step further, the interior can reflect your fashion statement as well. There's a whole new range of products to make your upholstery reflect your personal taste so it's more stylish, enjoyable, and captivating. So what are the latest wrinkles in upholstery? Like that famous line from "The Graduate," it can be summed up in one word: "plastics."

Scratch & Sniff

Vinyl used to be considered the sturdy but practical cousin to the glamorous and upscale world of leather upholstery. Vinyl was dull and dependable; leather was chic and luxurious. Modern petrochemical science has given vinyl a makeover, though, so it's now softer, with a natural-grain texture that's nearly indistinguishable from "all natural" fabrics. In fact, it's so close to leather, it makes you want to sniff for the tannin and check for scars from barbed wire fencing.

Although the softer-type vinyl is not as durable as the stiffer vinyl materials, there has been an improved topcoat technology in the last several years that is closing the gap between the two types. Part of the difference in modern vinyl is in the obviously thicker backing material and increased amount of plasticizers—plus the PVC and urethane topcoat that gives a drier feel like leather. There's also a randomized grain embossed into it. More important, the topcoat provides more durability, compensating for the higher level of plasticizers. There are other advantages of vinyl over leather, such as consistent color, lack of creasing or wrinkling, ease of storage and cleaning, and, perhaps most important, lower cost.

With advances in vinyl, why does leather continue to command so much prestige and appeal in the marketplace? "When you look at high-end vehicles, such as Navigators, Escalades, and BMWs, this clientele demands leather because it exudes quality and elegance," points out Larry Weiner of Performance West Group. "It makes the vehicle look and feel more expensive."

Cost Vs. Value

Weiner is uniquely qualified to speak on the subject of car upholstery, because he was in the leather restoration business for a number of years before he became a custom show-car builder. "But leather is a drawback in a cold climate: It gets stiff and cold, and it loses its natural oils over time, so it's susceptible to dry rot," he continues. "Not only that, there's no such thing as 'new' leather. The animal that it came from wore it for ten years, so it has bug bites and scars from fights and barbed wire."

Despite such "flaws" in a natural-grain product (which vinyl manufacturers actually work hard to imitate), there are other reasons why leather continues to have a strong appeal over vinyl. "We offer an all-vinyl interior, but there's not much demand for it," explains Ron Leslie, marketing director for Katzkin. "Leather is just far superior; vinyl just doesn't have the feel or smell of leather. The reality is that we're dealing with a new car market and leather adds value to the car. It has residual value, and the Blue Book price is higher. You get extra dollars for having leather in your car. We could use vinyl to create a custom interior which would add value, but it's still not as valuable as leather."

In addition to developing soft-touch leathers, one manufacturer recently introduced a synthetic material with the same look and feel as suede which, according to Weiner, "has all the virtues of leather, but none of the drawbacks. It's not as hot or cold as leather. It's a nice alternative in color, texture, and feel, and gives tremendous character to a vehicle, creating contrasting colors and surfaces. It makes you want to feel the nap."

Style & Budget

Even with all this emphasis on vinyl as low-cost "imitation leather," there's another side to synthetics. According to vinyl manufacturers and distributors, a whole new generation of consumers, particularly in the sport-compact market, could care less about the debate between the luxury of leather and the cost-savings of vinyl. To them, vinyl has its own identity and virtues, and they like its look and feel.

"The lower-end youth market is more enamored of hot styles and performance," Weiner points out. "Those buyers have a smaller budget, and vinyls come in a wilder selection of colors, so leather is not as popular."

Various manufacturers and distributors point out that viewing vinyl solely as faux leather limits its use and inhibits design creativity. Moving away from the "imitation leather" perspective opens up a far wider range of applications. Without having to stick to leather-like textures, all sorts of grains are possible. The character of vinyl invites free thinking, so a designer who finds a texture that is interesting can mold it into vinyl.

Freedom & Choice

Looking at vinyl fabrics in general, not just for the automotive industry, the trend in print is toward non-directional geometrics that create exciting effects. New types of surface grains include polar fleece, a flannel look and a texture resembling a crumpled paper bag. Vinyl imprinted with the inside of a fiberglass mold creates a technological "natural fiber" look.

Just because the fashion and upholstery industry embraces these new designs, however, doesn't mean they're right for automotive applications. "The apparel side of the industry has unique vinyls," Weiner acknowledges. "But they're not found so much in cars because of exposure to sunlight. Clothing is not as exposed, so color-fastness is not an issue. Also, in a car you have to be more judicious in color selection and wear characteristics." In other words, a new vinyl print may look great on the catwalk, but that doesn't mean it'll work on a car seat bottom.

Nevertheless, the freedom offered by vinyl is impacting the design of car interiors. Combining textures can produces exciting effects. In the past, car manufacturers faced the challenge of trying to match grains on so many different surfaces such as door panels, A-pillars, dashboards, instrument panels and seating. But by combining grains, a designer can create an interior that's eclectic yet harmonious. To visualize the effect, think of an athletic shoe that's made from a variety of materials: leather, vinyl, plastic, rubber and nylon. Despite their different characteristics, these materials fuse together in a balanced way.

Pearls & Swirls

How about the latest in color schemes? Weiner has been experimenting with a highly reflective, polychromatic vinyl that changes colors depending on the angle from which it's viewed. The material is impregnated with a color-shifting pigment that can be matched to the color-shifting exterior paint scheme.

In general, silver and silver pearls are very hot right now, and not merely because they brighten up and enlarge the appearance of an interior. "They're fade-resistant and heat-resistant," Weiner points out. "They won't absorb heat, they reflect rather than absorb sunlight." Besides that, they also show up better in your reflection when you drive by a storefront window.

Resources

CGPC America/Eduratex, 800-243-CGPC, www.cgpcamerica.com

Just Dashes, 800-247-3274, www.justdashes.com

Katzkin, 800-842-0590, www.katzkin.com

Performance West Group, 760-630-0547, www.performancewestgroup.com

Spradling, 205-985-4206, www.spradlingvinyl.com