If you need to reupholster a piece of vintage furniture, here’s what sounds like a great source for mid century modern style fabrics by major designers at discount prices. We’ve just discovered Modern Fabrics, which sources up to 1,000 bolts of discarded fabric every week from the excess generated during the manufacture of luxury residential and commercial furniture. They sell this remnant yardage — available in quantities from one yard to 15+ yards — at a discount of 40-60% off the retail price. Because today’s high-end furniture market is so mid century modern mad, quite a few of the upholstery fabric designs we see on the website look like they would be great for retro upholstery projects.
Since 2007, James and Ewa Powell have been reclaiming designer textiles — not just scraps, but also bolts of leftovers. The Powells, owners of Modern Fabrics, collect and sell these fabrics at a 40 to 60 percent discount through their website (www.modern-fabrics.com) and storefront in Charlotte, NC.
In the early days, the couple found themselves dumpster diving to rescue discarded excess fabrics but today they are exclusive buyers at many outlets. “We’re no longer driving around in our Subaru begging for fabric,” James says. “We’ve forged long-term business relationships and positioned ourselves as a company that wants — and gets — the best fabrics.”
Modern Fabrics sources up to 1,000 bolts of discarded fabric every week from the excess generated during the manufacture of luxury residential and commercial furniture. These fabrics are brand new, immediately ready to be reused for furniture, cushions, craft or interior design projects.
James says, “Some companies, such as Knoll, Maharam and Herman Miller, are ahead of the curve, understanding the importance of showing the provenance of a fabric.”
At Modern Fabrics, they go to great lengths to ID the fabrics, noting the textile brands, patterns, colorways, collections, fabric content, and origin, making it easier to find fabrics by specific designers, favorite patterns, or old favorites that have been discontinued.
The company operates a 6,000 square-foot shop in Charlotte’s SouthEnd neighborhood and a warehouse in nearby Lincolnton, NC.
We found their website to be well organized and super easy to navigate. Nice!
Good news for anyone looking for high quality mid century modern or retro design upholstery fabric to recover their vintage finds.
Atomic Livin Home says
They have fresh inventory all the time. If you don’t find what you want this week, check back.
You don’t need to know how to upholster to use their fabrics. I make pillows with them. Some people make handbags, totes, wall hangings, ect.
What a great place with a wonderful concept of saving those wonderful fabrics from the landfill!
Carolyn Self says
I found this site a good while back, but never realized it was in Charlotte.
I really feel a retro road trip coming on. Fabrics there, and furniture at Midcentury Salvage. Woot!
BlueJay says
I bet this is Mid Century Salvage’s supplier. They had indicated they used a discount supplier for high-end fabrics.
Annie B. says
Where is Mid Century Salvage?
Robin, NV says
Can’t wait to check these guys out. Way out West, we have Mill End Fabric. They’re not as well organized as Modern Fabrics but they have enormous selection. I recently scored some green fabric to reupholster my “new” set of Heywood Wakefield chairs. At Mill End, 2 yards was $5.
LoquaciousLaura says
Yay Charlotte! (That’s where I am and am from!)
brty says
I discovered Modern Fabrics a little over two years ago when I thought about buying new dining room chairs, since I was sick of my Room & Board standard issue with boring black seat covers that I’d had for 15+ years. However, the chairs are in fine shape still, and it would have cost alot to get something new. I realized I could just cover the seats with a cool fabric, and my googling led me to Modern Fabrics. I got a beautiful Maharam fabric for only $20/yard–which is less than half of what it would cost elsewhere. They sent swatches of all of the fabrics I thought I might like, so it was easy to pick what was best. The chairs look great now, and they suit our mid-mod house so well! So glad you’re featuring this great company on your site!
Annie B. says
What a fantastic resource, not only for finding your perfect vintage upholstery fabric, but also for learning about textile designers, patterns, brands, and the manufacturing process.
Modern Fabrics is doing for textiles what Replacements is doing for china and what Pam is doing for pink bathrooms. Maybe “Save the Pink Metallic Sofa Fabric” should be added to our list of retro rescues.
jeanne says
What a great resource! Thank you! Fabric and dishes are my weakness. I can never get enough – even though I don’t NEED anymore I always WANT more. I do have two Danish Modern chairs I got from a Salvation Army about 15 years ago and have always wanted to get the seat & backs reupholstered. This will be a great source when I’m ready.
Diane from PA says
One of everything please,,,,!!!!!!
Erin in Ohio says
Thank you, James and Ewa, for saving these fabrics! Your brick-and-mortar shop is adorable, but I really want to compliment you on your well-designed website. I can’t wait to find something I need to reupolster!
Mary Elizabeth says
Oh, I’m so going to go to that site today! Keep in mind, those who sew a little but haven’t done actual upholstery, that these fabrics can be given to someone who does that kind of work. I’ve done this process. Get the upholsterer or slip-cover maker to measure your furniture and estimate the labor and amount and type of fabric needed. Then order your fabric with a little left over.
Also, the smaller remnants can be made into pillow covers, which I have done a lot of. I assume they have drapery fabrics also.
For those who shop in local fabric remnant stores, usually the name of the manufacturer is printed on the selvage, and usually the fabric content and cleaning instructions are on the end of the bolt.