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Upholstery Restoration and Trends

An upgrade you can see and feel

In days gone by, one would only consider a re-upholstery of one's vehicle if the fabric were truly beyond repair (or reproach). Car seats, regrettably, are not like one's denim pants that can withstand a bit of patchwork or ironed-on covering. Typically, once a vehicle's interior began to show signs of extreme wear, slipcovers were the order of the day.

Inside Edition

But, with many owners searching for an "individual touch" and collectors desiring a complete restoration, upholsterers are busier than ever. Gone for the most part—although still available on certain lower-priced forms of transportation—is the traditional sheepskin seat cover, or worse, some sort of fabric liner. Today, people are both more demanding and critical, expecting quality materials to cover where they plant themselves. And, in many cases, it's more important how the seat looks than it is how it feels.

Billy Crystal once said, "It is better to look good than to feel good." Of course, those who are old enough to have watched Nixon resign can likely recall seeing those AMC Hornets and Gremlins with Levi-branded denim seats—and probably wish they hadn't.

Fortunately, most upholsterers who prefer to remain in business are up-to-date (and up-to-speed) with the most requested installations. And making sure the customer is comfortable with the look, feel and price is what keeps a company in business. For many upholsterers, it is word-of-mouth, and key customers, that keeps them busy, as well as the quality of their work. Upholsterers are artists. It takes a special talent to mold, sew and fit leather and other fabrics and materials to a car's interior—from doors to headliners to window rests to just about anywhere. Plus, installing carpet correctly to ensure a complete finished appearance is an important part of the overall package.

Material World

Today, that interior package is more than just leather, vinyl or basic fabrics. In the automotive kingdom, especially at the top of the ownership food chain, anything goes. And that means custom embroidery and installation—especially for movie stars, athletes and the requisite rapper—is the order of the day. And what kind of customization would that be? How about an assortment of Gucci fabrics for seat covers? Or an ostrich interior? Perhaps some alligator material on a motorcycle seat? In triple tone no less? Or maybe something in a leopard print? Very trendy. Very expensive.

It's all possible, according to Jesse Sanchez, owner of California Auto Upholstery, based in the Orange County city of Garden Grove. These special orders are both a challenge and a profit center for Sanchez and his colleagues and competitors. Many high-profile customers who own upscale vehicles such as Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Porsches and Ferraris—all which come with lovely leathers as part of the price tag—immediately order these interiors removed in favor of something that "better reflects their personal choice and lifestyle." This includes special embroidery, piping, the owner's initials in the headrest or seats, and other clever and unique touches. Two-tones are popular, as is suede and other exotic, but never illegal hides.

The influence of the MTV show "Pimp My Ride" has encouraged certain enthusiasts to request even more bizarre upholstery; specially made fabrics that feature iron crosses, cartoon characters and sports teams' logos have found their way into the interiors of SUVs, limos, even motorhomes. Upholstery, in other words, fit for a king. And speaking of Elvis, he was the master of interior design, for his cars as well as his home. Velvet slipcovers were a staple, in multiple hues. Can you dig it?

Style Makeover

If a customer specifies a style, no matter how bizarre, chances are that a good upholsterer can deliver. One ballplayer requested a steering wheel be embroidered with special stitching that made it look like a baseball. Even hot rodders seeking to restore a vintage Deuce coupe seek out the craftsman who can replace its '50s Naugahyde interior. Naugahyde, by the way, is a trademarked brand name, and has served the automotive market for many years, offering a variety of vinyl products, which it considers "the real performance fabric."

Most upholsterers who offer leather buy their goods from a tanning company, which in turn buys its hides from ranchers. The tannery cleans up and dyes the leather, generally in the most commonly used colors, but will, for special orders that come with special prices, deliver the occasional yardage of orange, deep purple or Rubio red to the discerning customer. Government regulations also require strict adherence to proper tanning processes, which typically involve some sort of chemical input to insure durability and longevity.

Dealer Upgrades

In addition to normal replacement of seats and door panels, what the pros call "reconditioning," upholsterers work with local dealerships to enhance new vehicles on their lot. Certain SUVs are the primary target. Many of these multi-seat vehicles now come with dealer-installed, highly sophisticated entertainment systems, which include multiple monitors placed throughout the interior. All these components require new upholstery to accommodate the upgraded headrests, consoles and seatbacks. Again, the emphasis is on customization—and it can go as far as the customer's pocketbook can accommodate. It's all about individual expression and the ability to display it.

Your vehicle is your comfort zone. And for most people, keeping your interior comfortable is a big part of enjoying your drive. In this case, feeling good is in fact just as important as looking good.

Resources

California Auto Upholstery, 14333 Commerce Dr., Garden Grove, Ca 92843, (714) 554-9072

Fast Ed's Interiors, 1840 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, Ca 90501, (310) 320-1766