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!
Mary Elizabeth says
I would go for anything Scandinavian–Marimekko style–in smaller yardage amounts for pillows, valances, place mats and wall hangings in a 1960s or ’70s room. Remember fabric covered wood valances? Upholstery fabric is good for those.
Anything designed by Vera Neumann or in her style. Also, a floral stripe like the green one shown in the photos or an old-fashioned timeless paisley would go well in a formal 1960s or ’70s-style living room. And definitely bark cloth. Vinyl for the ’60s and ’70s should be in bright solids, large poppies or daisies or simple stripe or check.
For the 1940s, vinyl and fabric for kitchen curtains could be fruits and/or flowers. Look at the old-fashioned oilcloth patterns to see what was up then.
Lots of luck to Alison.
Lyndasewsalot says
Adding to my rant ….I wouldn’t accept returns . Inspect it before you send it. Measure it 2x before mailing it out. If you do accept a return , never take it back if the fabric is cut by the client. Once they cut it , it should be a done deal.
Lyndasewsalot says
I would group coordinating fabrics together. Sort of like fabric company’s arrange their sample books. . I don’t know if you have seen the trend of mixing all sorts of vintage fabrics on one chair. It’s not a purist , historical ,vintage look. But it sure is a lot of fun to look at. It would open your stock up to people not only with vintage taste. It also has a great bohemian (boho?) look. I do quite a lot of upholstery , and curtains. The fabrics I scout out at estate sales are : barkcloth, Naugahyde , crackle vinyl (so hard to find, the new ones are all pixelated) I love any texture that feels good to touch . I love groovy , sixties cottons . ???? I love it all!!! Make sure you store it in a good environment that won’t encourage dryrot. And even if you have some that has dry rot , don’t get rid of it . Offer it at a discount price. If it’s not crazy damaged it can be lined before its sewn . Or covered with thick clear vinyl. And stretched tight. Then warmed with a heat gun. And it will last under the vinyl. Fabric makes me so happy. Good luck, I hope this wasn’t to much of a rant!
Shauntelle says
I second the idea of selling it to set designers in film & television. They are ALWAYS looking for deadstock period appropriate fabric and wallpaper! I do a ton of prop rental through my vintage shop here in Toronto and a few years ago, my upholsterer asked me if I knew how to liquidate a whole shop full of vintage wools (a neighbour of hers inherited it). I put her in touch with the set designer people I knew and they bought the whole lot.
Go on imbd.com and look up set designers or production designers and start from there (think MadMen type shows and movies).
Ann Ladenberger says
Agree totally. Also, see if your state has a TV/film production development office (Google it and see if your state has one. Many do.) I live in Georgia and TONS of production is done here; Hollywood ain’t where it used to be.) they might be able to direct you to potential buyers. Also, theatrical companies might have a need, or art schools. Don’t toss it!
Peggy says
I love the Waverly fabrics especially the sweet violet pattern pictured!
Agree with the other commenters in that it needs to be sorted by type if fabrics c, manufacturer and yardage. If some aren’t a true MCM so what you can still list and sell to a broader audience.
What a find! Best of luck with this venture.
DJ Shoepe says
Oh my gosh- that Blue Damask is heavenly! And as someone mentioned before, still quite in style. Damask is a classic. I recovered our antique dining room chairs in black damask.
I need to find a use for that fun blue and green wave! If I had the money, I’d buy another house just to decorate around it!
yellow says
Don’t knock the midcentury vintage florals. There are those of us out there who are into that : )
Denise says
That’s what I was just going to write!
Elizabeth from Texas says
I just ADORE vintage florals with bright colors! In fact I’m in need of gobs for pinch-pleat drapes!
Alan Gonzalez says
Any Frieze? I remodeling my Cliff May Rancho and in need of Frieze with Lurex thread in it for Sofa and Chair set. 16yards and 2 matching chairs with a fabric center table. Coral, white, teal, blue,green. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Renee Ergazos says
There is an huge, amazing mid century resale shop in Canton Ohio: Main St. Modern.
https://www.facebook.com/MainStModern/photos/
They’ve started making their own line of benches but also do some reupholstering. They use mainly Knoll Textiles, but they might be interested in these.
I highly recommend visiting this shop if in the Midwest. They have very limited hours and are closed to the public Nov-April but the owner is always responsive year round. It is a true destination shop, 3 stories housed in an old train depot.
joyce says
I agree with several of Pam’s comments.
Samples. Being able to get a sample is critical. If it’s pricey to offer that, maybe only do it for potential purchases over 10 yards.
Post yardage. I like to know before I fall in love with a pattern if there are 2 yards or 20. I have a large banquette I want to recover before too long. The red bumpy vinyl looks like a potential fit, but I would need to know more info.
Good luck!