On a major hunt to find upholstery fabric to cover the sectional for my Mahalo Lounge, I am very excited to report that I have found two fabrics — both from Knoll Textiles — that come as close to the old-fashioned frieze fabric that we love than I have ever seen before. Above: That’s Knoll “Totem” in “Fling” set on a piece of vintage gold frieze from my archival collection (I am going to stop calling it a hoard; I am an anthropologist).
Above: That’s Knoll “Mariner” in “Red” set on a another piece of my vintage frieze. Neither of these fabrics are what you would call inexpensive, but read on, and I have some money-saving tips for you if you need small(ish) quantities and/or can wait it out.
More about Knoll Totem:
Knoll Totem comes in 10 colorways. I adore the “Fling” colorway I ordered as a sample, and it may well end up on my sectional: The color is right to match the leaves in my Diamondhead Kamuela barkcloth drapery fabric… it is very durable — 100,000+ double rubs via the Wyzenbeek method (fabric is 71% polyester, 29% acrylic)… while it reads kind of ‘horizontal stripey” on screen, when I test it on my actual sofa, the pattern reads running both vertically and horizontally and when you are standing a few feet away, it’s an optical solid… it has a pretty hefty hand — 18.75 oz. per linear yard)… and finally, I love that it’s so like vintage frieze. The only downside (except for cost, see more on that below): My family wants comfy cushy upholstery, like chenille, that they can take a cozy nap on. In this instance, though, I am likely to overrule them for aesthetics and to satisfy them, make sure that a plush throw is part of the design and handy to put under when they want to nap in the Lounge.
Knoll Totem is $83/yard, and from playing with their website, it looks like Knoll will directly to me, that is, to retail customers. Considering the cost (gulp, I need 30 yards), I have a friend who has potential access to “To the Trade” pricing; if I do go that route, I might ask her if she can get it for me at lower cost, if that’s even possible.
Website link: Knoll Totem
More about Knoll Mariner:
Knoll Mariner comes in seven highly saturated colorways. I tend to think it is even more “true vintage-style” than Totem, be because it is 100% nylon with an acrylic backing. Seriously, it is super similar to my vintage brown frieze: Click on that photo at the top and if you’re on a desktop, it should double in size — you can see more detail.
Initially, I ordered a sample of Knoll Mariner in Red, to see if the red would coordinate with my draperies. Nope. But I like it so much that I have now ordered a sample in Pine — the basement is getting a sectional update, too! More to come on the sectional situation; I am having them custom-made — the biggest, most expensive thing I have ever done in terms of buying furniture.
Knoll Mariner passes 75,000 double rubs on Wyzenbeek test. That’s also super durable, I am told. Cost is $44 per yard.
Website: Knoll Mariner
On Knoll fabrics in general:
I was extremely impressed with the variety of fabrics available from Knoll. I had always thought if this company as super high-end, but they have some wonderful fabrics at lower prices, too.
The company also allow you to order samples — an unlimited number, as far as I can tell. The 8.5″ x 8×5″ samples came very quickly, too.
Nicely done, Knoll, I have become a ginormous fan!
Find Knoll fabrics at discount prices:
I’ve written about Modern Fabrics before. This company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, receives ends of bolts of fabric and discontinued fabrics from major furniture makers and offers them at significant discount prices. Their website allows you to sort by brand — for example, here’s what they currently have from Knoll. The catch is: Will they have the yardage you need, in the fabric you want? Obviously, you are going to have better luck with smaller projects vs. larger ones.
Modern Fabrics also sends samples, although they get to you slower than big operators like Knoll. But golly, if something new comes up, you may need to be ready to jump, because someone else might snap it up.
They also have a subcategory that sorts by yardage available. I have found that these subcategories aren’t always perfect. For example, as I recall (I got blind after a while because I spent so much time on this website) that there were some fabrics with 30+ yards available in the 15-20 category (but not in the 30+ category). I also *think* I saw fabrics in the Midcentury Modern category that I had not seen elsewhere.
I am now waiting for my samples from Modern Fabrics to come. And, I am also checking their New Arrivals tab daily to see if anything new that could work pops up.
Finally, as I continue my hunt for the perfect fabrics for my two sectionals, actually noted from the Modern Fabrics website some of the companies that seemed to be making fabrics in the style I wanted. Then, I jumped over to their websites to do more research and order samples. Two other companies I have ordered samples from so far are Maharam and Designtex.
Website: Modern Fabrics
Brooke says
I love that Knoll Totem fabric and colour. I may have to look into buying some for dining room chairs.
I’m dropping off some teak lounge chairs the week to be upholstered in fabric from Designtex (Adler fabric in Daffodil which is a yellow/citron colour).
Designtex offers tons of fabric choices and colours in lots of price points if someone is looking for an alternative source. I believe my fabric was $35 US/yard and it has a rating of 90K double rubs.
If you look at the link they also give you the option of viewing the fabric type in “dynamic” (just click the word dynamic under the photo) so you can see the great texture.
http://www.designtex.com/adler.html
I’m looking forward to seeing how your sofa turns out in that great fabric!
pam kueber says
One of the Adler fabrics also is on my current short list! I think the name is Tomato (it’s upstairs, I was just playing with it.) Yes, I like a lot of their designs as well!
Brooke says
I really liked the Tomato colour as well (orange and red) and was thinking if my chairs turned out well I could use that colour on something else. The two tone effect you get with the Adler fabric was why I went with it. The totem is great for the same reason, two toned but with the great pattern to help keep the fabric from looking too flat.
Plus the initial low US price really helped. Once you convert to Canadian plus shipping/duty/taxes it’s closer to $80-85/yard so not great but cheaper than any of the decent fabric available locally.
I’m dropping off my first chair and ottoman tomorrow (I have a set to be done) but if you want to see how the Adler fabric looks on a piece of furniture I can send you photos when I get them back 🙂
pam kueber says
Thanks, Brooke — yes, I’d LOVE to see how the chairs turn out!
Debbie in Portland says
One of the longtime nagging problems in my life has just been solved by the phrase “I am going to stop calling it a hoard; I am an anthropologist.” 🙂
Paul says
The fabrics you describe are more than likely commercial fabrics and yes, Knoll is expensive stuff (I worked for 25 years as a commercial interior designer so I got to play with a lot of wonderful fabrics). The Wyzenbeek test you mentioned helps designers determine the appropriateness of a fabric for a particular situation (among other factors). A fabric shown at 30,000 double rubs is considered heavy duty. With a fabric at 100K double rubs, you could just about land airplanes on it and not damage it. Health care and hospitality usually demand textiles like this and may have them treated further with a coating. I’ve seen fabrics spec’d with a million double rubs…practical but not soft and cushy. Hope you’re eyes aren’t glazing over yet. PJF
pam kueber says
Thanks, Paul, yes, I knew about Wyzenbeeks! All things considered, I want a lot of ’em!
Jay says
I hope we can have a sneak peek at those drapes before the entire room comes together. I like the look of the Mariner Pine, I want to recover the dining room chairs but it is kind of pricey just to use for chair pads. I will check out Modern Fabrics. We always reap the benefit of your time consuming research. Thanks!
Marilyn Watson says
Pam, I am looking for some of the gold tapestry type upholstery that you would see around 1959-61 commonly found on French Provincial Living Room Chairs the big ones. Do you recommend a source for that? I have just loved looking at all this fabric. Thank you for the article.
pam kueber says
Hi Marilyn, French Provincial is not something I write about a lot. But we recently profiled the following etsy seller who has a motherlode of New Old Stock, including some damasks, which is what I *think* you are looking for. Take a look – maybe you will find something that works: https://retrorenovation.com/2016/10/31/store-full-new-old-stock-upholstery-whats-marketable/
If you can’t find it there, I think that damask upholstery remains pretty easy to find…
Barbara says
I must say Pamela, your also a mind reader!!
I’m also looking for “frieze” upholstery fabric in 20+yds.
Thank you so much for this absolutely wonderful…information.
P.S. Your my favorite gal when it comes to MCM!
pam kueber says
Thank you, Barbara!
tony rahier says
i just ordered their cryton spring loop for my mcm sectional re upholster. its a nice frieze look as well and from Kovvi
pam kueber says
Thank for the tip on Kovi fabrics. They look to have some great stuff too. I’ll be ordering samples, if they let me!
Lynne says
Do you have your new drapes up yet?? Or are you working from the drapery sample? Gotta be ever so slightly mindful of those pesky dye lots. That goes for the drapery as well as the sofa fabric.
Thirty yards of $84.00 fabric, and the upholstery charges, is a major investment. Do they offer a customer approval? I think they call it a CAO, or a COA, where you get a sample of the actual roll YOUR fabric is coming from.
I only speak of this because when expecting “Tangerine” and what I got was the color of tomato soup when you scoop in from the can.
Oh, Pam make sure you have some black somewhere near those fab drapes to pull out that wonderful black background!
pam kueber says
The drapes are going up Tuesday! I need to spray paint the new traverse rods…
Yes, there will be plenty of black elsewhere in the room. Yes, I am comparing all the upholstery samples to the drapery fabric – but the early samples, not those that are up yet. I realize dye lots may differ. No upholstery ordered yet; samples still coming in.
Thanks for the tip on CAO/COA, I will for sure ask about that!
Dan says
It’s worth the expense if it wears as well as the original frieze. Just be sure it’s what you really want; your grandkids may be living with it!
pam kueber says
Yes, and then they, too, can tell stories about how it left marks on their bare legs when they sat on it in the summer!
Madeline says
More nice fabric from Knoll..! I’d better avoid the temptation. There is so much to choose from.
I have several yards from their archival collection I purchased a few months ago. It will go on my 1970’s Danflex desk chair.