Alison is in possession of a store’s worth of New Old Stock upholstery — fabrics and vinyls — but wants our help. What designs of vintage upholstery are in demand among Retro Renovators today? Read on — then help me give her advice that may save this vintage treasure.
A few years ago, my family bought out an old upholstery supply shop that started in 1946. The company had a ton of old upholstery fabric and vinyl from the 1960s and 1970s. Some is actually even older, but the records have been lost.
It wasn’t moving from the shelf at all, and the corporate company decision was to junk it. My crafty and creative self couldn’t let this gorgeous supply of fabrics go, especially if craftsmen and creators could use it to enhance their projects. To prevent all this fabric from ending up in a landfill, I have been trying to catalog and post a few samples on Etsy. Unfortunately it is labor intensive and time consuming to sort, measure, and catalog hundreds of bolts of fabric, and I am beginning to wonder if the corporate decision might have made more sense and if there is even enough demand for vintage upholstery fabric to justify the effort.
I would love to get your feedback on the products listed. If you know of any highly sought after styles or patterns from this time period I’d love to know, so I can pick them out before all this fabric gets sent to the landfill.
What’s marketable — and how should Alison proceed to sell her New Old Stock successfully and efficiently?
Super exciting, Alison — there’s almost nothing we get more excited about than New Old Stock from old stores and warehouses. To help get started, here are a few of my ideas:
- Offer samples — People doing reupholstery projects really need to be sure the fabric works. As part of each listing, or as a separate listing, I think you need to offer sample-sized pieces. I’d say at least 9″ x 9″.
- Focus on bolts with lots of yardage — Folks doing reupholstery generally need a lot of yardage. A sofa requires like 20+ yards! So, I’d focus on cataloguing and listing the fabrics with the most yardage first.
- List total yardage in the listing — Relatedly, list the total yardage available in the main listing or even in the heading. This will help people narrow down to the fabrics that might work for them. You might also categorize the listings similarly. Right now, you have Upholstery, Vinyl, and Fabric categories. I’d add Less than five yards, 5-10 yards, More than 10 yards, More than 20 yards. You could also consider other categories such as: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s … and Florals, Plush, Screen-printed.
- What’s marketable — So now to the $64,000 question. There is more than one to retro, so golly, there are niches of folks looking for everything.
- One of the first things that I did when I got my vintage dining room set was to reupholster the seats. This did not take much yardage. I used a plush, hearty velvet-like, tone-on-tone fabric.
- Florals, meh: In upholstery or fabric, our readers likely aren’t going to go for these, unless the flowers are 1960s flower power. I do see you sold some that were flocked or satin-ized — those are a different era of retro, find more!
- All your vinyls should do well, I think — folks are always wanting to reupholster bar stools and banquettes and the like, and you have some winning designs.
- 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, but not 1980s or 90s — If you’re prioritizing, go for the early years. 1950s and 1960s fabrics new old stock are hard to find; very desirable.
- Got any barkcloth? SUPER desirable!
- How about tiki/Hawaiian/Polynesian? Should sell!
- Frieze — added per Georgia Peachez comment. Here’s what frieze looks like, for those who are not familiar with the term.
- Chinoiserie — per Shann.
- Anything Knoll-like, per ineffablespace, and I’d add: Maharam.
- Also see ineffablespace’s comments re pricing and sampling.
- 1970s design is rising in popularity — I love corduroys, for example — and please, don’t fear the wacky — like the Bicentennial fabric. Wacky is good.
- Novelty patterns of any era might find buyers.
- But 1980s and 1990s — I’d shove those bolts to the back and wait a few more years.
- Last but not least: Watch what sells and go dig through your stash to find more like it to list.
- Oh and one more thing: I’m sure you were saying it would ‘go to a landfill’ kind of casually. If bolts don’t sell, I am sure that places like Goodwill could always use them. And, a ReStore Habitat for Humanity might take the vinyl, considering they often also sell furniture and appeal to Do-It-Yourselfers.
- Readers, don’t forget we already have one other source for NOS vinyls — see this story.
Thank you for writing, Alison, this is all quite exciting! Good luck!
Readers, take a good look at Alison’s etsy show here.
Then, we’d love to hear your thoughts on her questions too!
`Andrea says
If this volume of fabric is daunting, why not sell lots(meaning a set number of bolts of fabric) of material for a deep discount ? This way creative types can buy materials at a price point that makes producing their goods profitable. Many lot type sales often place several desirable items with a few less desirable duds – the catch being that you need to buy it all together.
Online fabric stores often have a price for a small amount – like 1 -3 yards, then offer lower prices for volume discounts like 5-10 yards or by the bolt.
With the velvet or plush type fabrics , it would be good to show a photo of the fabric shown from the side, to illustrate the thickness. The back side of the material could also be shown to give buyers a better idea of the weave.
Some vinyl upholstery fabrics age well. Some have an unstable chemistry which can make plastic/leatherette materials begin to peel apart or get sticky or cloudy. You can’t fix sticky or disintegrating plastics – you’ll have to toss these.
Someone above suggested that you group the fabrics by color, which I think is an excellent idea. Another way to group them would also be by weight – ie “heavy weight upholstery material”, “light weight material suitable for shirts or dresses”, etc. By volume could be another category ie “multiple bolts” ” under ten yards”, etc.
It might be less overwhelming to post the smaller amounts of fabric first. Do you have the shipping methods figured out for entire bolts of fabric, for example ?
It sounds like a large volume to contend with. If you are feeling overwhelmed, break down the cataloguing and posting into smaller tasks. Like today you are going to take pics of the velvet – or pinks – or whatever, then post that the same day. Or give yourself two hours to do photos, then two hours to post what you can.
I see a lot of potential in what you have posted so far. Some of the upholstery fabrics in particular could be useful for purses, pillows, accessories or even funky outerwear. Creative types can take materials that seem otherwise hopeless and transform them into something witty and desirable. I can totally see some of the late 70’s grandma type floral upholstery (like would have been used for modestly priced colonial type sofas) used in a hipster restaurant or lounge.
pam kueber says
I agree re: the vinyl. From what I have heard — and mind you I am NOT AN EXPERT — some of this does not age well. I’m not sure where to point you, though, to get a better understanding.
Carolyn says
‘Andrea – ooh, yeah, the idea for outerwear! Had a gold and brown coat that had to have been made from upholstery fabric with fake fur cuffs and collar!
pam kueber says
Yes!
Melinda says
I would say condition is key as well. Is the fabric, and especially the vinyl, still in good enough condition to be stretched and pulled and hold the tacks and staples for upholstery?
Looking forward to seeing all you have to offer!
Lynne says
I know you’re on Etsy, but you may want to consider Ebay as well. That way you would be hitting two markets.
I thought Pam had excellent ideas.
The only thought I could add was from a sewers standpoint. Make sure the fabrics and vinyls are still usable. If they are too stiff, crunchy and dried out they aren’t going to work. Upholstery fabric has to be pliable and workable.
Lastly, patience. This sort of thing probably isn’t going to sell overnight.
Wendy says
Not sure if this helps, but here in Michigan is a Fabric Warehouse that buys ends of bolts direct from the mills then re-sells to the public. They have been doing this for YEARS and REALLY know fabric. They might be a good resource to just talk to. The owners are really friendly and know their customers. If they don’t have an answer, they may know someone who does. Here is their website: http://www.fabricwarehouse.co/about-us.html
pam kueber says
oooooh gonna go look right now
Suzy says
Frieze is highly sought after especially in quanity. I have a collection of smaller pieces that can be seen on my Flickr page. People are always finding my pictures and contacting me to see if I will sell or help them find a source.
pam kueber says
Great point! I have a small bolt of brown frieze snapped up from an estate sale, and some lesser yardage of gold frieze — I need to etsy them, as I don’t think I will ever use them!
Lisa Rickenberg says
I’m an upholstery student, so I am absolutely thrilled to see this find! I totally agree with most of Pam’s suggestions, particularly listing total available fabric because so many upholstery projects do need larger yardage. Personally, I’m fond of geometrics and solids, but there are people who will want the florals. I’ve been searching forever for NOS Naugahyde “contemporary” pattern. If you have anything like that, I”m sure it will fly out the door!
pam kueber says
Lisa, don’t forget this previous find of NOS vinyls, maybe there’s something you’d like? https://retrorenovation.com/2015/05/13/vintage-vinyl-upholstery-fabric/
Jacki says
And don’t forget the popular colors of the fifties, sixties and seventies. Various hues of Oranges and reds and browns, blues and greens especially avocado and the more muted greens. I am always on the look out for combinations of blues and greens as it was a very popular combination the late 50’s through the early 70’s according to my vintage magazine ads. Plus, give it some time and let shoppers discover you, a good start was coming to this website and looking for other sites that would love to showcase your goods.
Nancy says
How exciting and daunting at the same time!
Please refrain from letting any of this go to a landfill OR to Goodwill until you do more research! Salvation Army and Goodwill type stores usually have time limits on soft goods and those that don’t sell by a set time get moved though the system where they ultimately get sold in bulk for rags or sent overseas.
My first reaction would be to contact the film office in every state. Set designers and costumers are always looking to add to their fabric libraries! Same goes for major theater companies. It’s possible to advertise in major film/theater publications, too. Who’s to say that you might not hit pay-dirt at a major motion picture studio or TV network?
Anything you do will take time and effort, but the reward of seeing these fabrics put to use. Best of luck to you!
sherree says
Allison, I added your shop to my favorites! I am always on the lookout for vintage fabrics for my own DIY projects. I pick them up whenever I see them at thrifts and yard sales and what I don’t use for myself always sells in my Etsy shop. The 60’s & 70’s ones never last long. I agree with Pam, add the yardage to the listing headings and perhaps group them into eras/ styles. People use them for many things: upholstery, window coverings, pillows, laundry bags, clothespin bags, table cloths and more. Good luck to you!
Carolyn says
Ah, brainstorming! Remember, the only dumb suggestion is the one that wasn’t shared. Who knows what will spark a thread (HA! thread/upholstery – snort!)
It appears your prices aren’t outrageous – plan a few discounts for 2017 and beyond anyways.
OK, so some of us aren’t fans of floral, except maybe for accents, but there are others who have been searching the ends of the earth for them. Don’t write them off until you see what moves.
Color gradients & ROYGBIV – pairing smaller quantities according to color: an arm chair body would be chartreuse with floral cushion. Dining chairs: straight would be solid and armed chairs patterned.
Could this be a Scout project or interns (art, supply chain, not real smart but I can lift heavy things, etc.) to assist in listing & shipping?
I feel Pam and those who have been with this blog from the start were vanguards in the granny ranch revolution. Now that more MCm’s are coming on the market with accompanying furnishings, people will looking for these stashes. I got a free gray couch only to discover it originally was a beautiful dusty rose before it was placed in front of windows but no period upholstery to replace it.
Carolyn says
Re: vinyl – I wanted to re-cover some card tables and chairs only to discover the national fabric stores’ offerings were about the thickness of leaf bags with fluffy flannel backings because they were manufactured overseas. This would be a selling point for those types of projects at a time (pre-2000’s) when even the cheap goods were still durable.
Susie Q. says
I just remembered my dad doing the same thing. He also reupholstered the bench in our 1970’s custom van with vinyl! If I had an old card table and chairs I’d jump on that project in a second!!