Journal
Trade guides for upholstery fabric, performance specs, and custom printing.
Practical references for interior designers, workrooms, hospitality buyers, and furniture manufacturers sourcing from Michael Jon Designs. Every guide leads with the answer first and cites the standards that matter.
Fabric Care Symbols Explained: A Trade Buyer's Cheat Sheet
Care symbols on an upholstery spec sheet compress a dense matrix of performance data into a handful of pictograms. This cheat sheet decodes the ACT icons and cleaning codes the design trade actually needs on the job.
What Is Performance Upholstery Fabric? (2026 Buyer's Guide)
Performance upholstery fabric is a category defined by test results, not marketing. This buyer's guide covers the fiber chemistry, finish systems, and abrasion thresholds that separate a true performance spec from a retail claim.
Upholstery Fabric Types: A Designer's Field Guide
Upholstery fabric types split along construction, fiber, and hand. This field guide walks the categories a specifier faces on the job and points to where each shows up in the MJD Capsule Collection.
Cleaning Codes for Upholstery Fabric: W, S, WS, X Explained
Cleaning codes tell maintenance what may touch the face cloth. This guide defines W, S, WS, and X in trade terms, pairs each with ACT guidance, and gives a decision tree for when to re-spec.
Wyzenbeek vs Martindale: Which Abrasion Test Matters?
Wyzenbeek and Martindale measure the same thing (abrasion) by different methods. This comparison lays out when each test matters, the ACT thresholds, and how to translate between double-rubs and cycles without getting burned.
CAL 117-2013 and NFPA 260: Flammability Standards for Contract Fabric
CAL 117 and NFPA 260 are the two flammability standards a US contract specifier meets most often. This guide walks scope, test method, and where each is required, with a note on BS 5852 for UK hospitality.
How Much Fabric Do You Need to Reupholster a Sofa?
A standard 3-cushion sofa takes 14 to 18 yards of 54-inch fabric. Exact yardage depends on pattern repeat, railroad vs up-the-bolt orientation, and the workroom's waste factor. This guide gives the numbers trade buyers actually use.
Custom Fabric Printing: Lead Times, Minimums, and the Strike-Off Process
Custom fabric printing runs on a predictable seven-step process: art prep, color spec, strike-off, approval, production, QC, ship. This guide walks trade buyers through lead times, minimums, and how strike-offs work in 2026.
Fire-Rated Upholstery Fabric: What It Means and When You Need It
Fire-rated is one of the most misunderstood phrases on a spec sheet. Here is what it actually certifies, which standard applies to your project, and how to confirm a fabric qualifies before you order yardage.
Vinyl vs Faux Leather Upholstery: How to Choose for Commercial Seating
The terms get used interchangeably, but vinyl, polyurethane, and faux leather behave differently in a high-use space. Here is how they compare on durability, cleanability, hand, and cost.
Bouclé vs Chenille: Which Upholstery Texture Is Right for the Project
Both are soft, tactile, and popular right now, but bouclé and chenille wear differently. Here is how they compare and where each one belongs.
Pet-Friendly Upholstery Fabric: What to Look For
Pets are hard on furniture. The right fabric resists claws, hides fur, and cleans up after accidents. Here is what to look for and what to avoid.
Color Representation
A note on color accuracy
We make every effort to present our fabrics as accurately as possible. Due to variations in monitor calibration, device settings, lighting conditions, and browser displays, on-screen colors should be considered a close representation rather than an exact match. For projects requiring precise color coordination, physical samples are available upon request for qualified trade customers, subject to availability.
Ready to spec?
Request a Michael Jon Designs sample packet.
Qualified trade buyers receive swatches from any of the four collections. Samples typically ship within two to three business days from Los Angeles.