Textiles and leather

Textiles and leather

Take a look at furninova.com or contact a sales representative for more information about our products.

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The Knowledge Hub

P. 1

The knowledge hub Furninova’s fabrics P. 3

Furninova’s fabrics Furninova has 40 to 50 different fabric qualities to choose from. There are usually 4 to 7 different colours in each quality, giving you a wide range of fabrics to choose from. We always strive to find the best fabrics for our products. Our fabrics are divided into three different price groups: A, B and C – A is the least expensive, C is the most exclusive. These groups are based only on price, which means that an A fabric can be every bit as good as a C fabric, but the B and C groups offer all kinds of extra features such as Efficiency, Fibre Guard and Easy Care.

Furniture upholstery is typically made from a blend of man-made and natural fibres.

Natural fibres, plant fibres and animal fibres include: • Cotton • Flax • Wool Man-made fibres include artificial and synthetic fibres: • Polyamide • Polyester • Polypropylene • Polypropylene • Acrylic • Viscose Polyester, polypropylene and cotton are the fibres most commonly used in our fabrics, but we also offer blends that include acrylic, linen, viscose and wool. Our fabrics come mainly from Europe.

Most fabrics contain some form of blend of fibres, both natural and man-made, to create desirable characteristics and appearances for use in furnishings.

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The knowledge hub Different materials P. 4

Different materials Acrylic

Polypropylene

Acrylic is a synthetic fibre. It is extremely lightfast

Polypropylene is a synthetic (artificial) fibre

and moderately resistant to wear. Acrylic fabrics

offering excellent resistance to wear, as well as

have a tendency to pill, which often increases

being lightweight and easy to dye. It is also easy

when blended with other materials.

to clean and maintain, which makes it useful for upholstery.

Cotton Cotton is a natural material and a plant fibre.

Wool

Cotton fabric is durable and highly resistant to

Wool is an excellent natural material for

wear and tear, so it works very well as furniture

upholstering furniture as it has a complex,

upholstery. This fibre can usually be washed

feather-like structure with a textured surface,

and dried at high temperatures without breaking

which evolution has refined to provide insulation.

down. That said, it has a high tendency to crease

Its unique cell structure is significantly different to

and shrink. Always make sure you follow the

the smooth surfaces of synthetic fibres.

care instructions for the fabric in question.

The structure of the wool fibres allows plenty of air to gather between the fibres, giving the wool

Flax Flax is a natural material, one of the oldest used by man. Linen is popular for its hypoallergenic properties, good tensile strength and resistance to dirt, stains and pilling. Linen drapes beautifully for a more casual look, which makes it particularly well suited to models with removable upholstery. This material may have a tendency to crease.

fantastic insulating properties as well as making it flexible, elastic and resistant to dirt.

Its elasticity also makes it less prone to creasing.

Wool may initially pill slightly on the surface.

This is perfectly normal and is in no way a reflection of the quality of the wool upholstery.

Viscose Viscose is a regenerated man-made fibre.

The raw material is cellulose, which is

Polyester Polyester is a synthetic fibre that is highly suitable for use on furniture subject to heavy wear and tear thanks to its robustness. It is very colourfast

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and easy to clean.

treated and mixed to form a viscous liquid that is then spun into threads. Viscose has low tensile strength and so in upholstery it is mainly used in combination with other stronger fibres.

Viscose is mainly used to create a beautiful shiny or soft surface.

The knowledge hub Treatments and weaving techniques P. 5

Treatments and weaving techniques Stonewashed

Manchester

Stonewashing is a textile treatment that gives the

The characteristic appearance of this fabric

fabric a special look and feel by washing it with

is created by weaving twisted parallel fibres,

stones. These specially washed textiles will give

creating a vertical furrow between them.

your furniture a unique appearance. Each piece

The fabric, which is usually made from standard

of fabric has its own characteristics, and colour

textiles such as cotton and wool, has a soft,

differences and wear can occur in just the same

velvety surface and is both strong and durable.

way as you can see in stonewashed jeans.

This makes each sofa and cover unique and individual.

Velvet Velvet is often made from silk, cotton,

Chenille

polyester and viscose. Velvet is often perceived

Chenille fabric creates furniture with an exciting

lightly textured surface that is very supple.

and vibrant look as the light falling on the fabric

The weaving technique and properties of the

is absorbed in different ways depending on the

fabric create furniture with an exciting and

direction of the fibres in that part.

vibrant look, as light falling on the fabric is

Characteristically, chenilles can become flat and

absorbed in different ways depending on the

patches can form. This is normal and does not

angle of the surface, or simply if you run your

affect the quality. Brush or vacuum the fabric

hand over it. Characteristically, velvet can

regularly using a soft brush to maintain its soft

become flat and patches can form. This is normal

surface.

and does not affect the quality. The surface of

as a dense, smooth fabric. Velvet has a soft,

the fabric is sensitive to spills and mechanical

Bouclé Bouclé is very popular thanks to its wonderful

wear, so it is important to gently brush or vacuum the fabric with a soft brush in order to maintain it.

visual texture and soft feel. Bouclé (a French word meaning “curl”) is a material that is either knitted or woven from a bouclé yarn. A bouclé yarn is twisted from one or more threads in such a way as to create loops, uneven patches or small knots. The knots in the yarn give this fabric a unique texture. The fabric may be slightly fluffy or hairy, but this is normal and does not affect the quality.

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The knowledge hub Certifications P. 6

Certification of fabrics and leather All materials that we use for production are

substances they manufacture or import and sell

compliant with the REACH regulation.

in the EU. The company has to demonstrate that

Our ambition at Furninova is to work long-term

the substance can be used safely throughout

with our suppliers. In order to ensure that social,

its life cycle and provide information on

environmental and quality requirements on our

appropriate risk management measures.

part are met, we have developed a supplier

Anyone using the substance in their operations

policy that all suppliers have signed and have to

must follow this information. If the substances

adhere to. Our suppliers of fabrics and leather

cannot be used safely, the EU can restrict their

must comply with REACH (Registration,

use in various ways, such as by banning them

Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of

or restricting their use by other means.

Chemicals), an EU regulation governing the

Licence requirements may even be introduced

production and safe use of chemicals.

for particularly hazardous substances with a view to replacing them with less hazardous

REACH REACH is a European Union regulation adopted in order to reinforce protection of human health and the environment from the risks that may be posed by chemicals. To comply with the requirements set out in the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked with the substances that they manufacture and market in the EU. All our fabrics are certified. REACH also regulates chemicals and toxic substances and is stricter than Oeko-Tex®.

Essentially, all substances are covered by REACH. This means that it includes substances in industrial products, cleaning products and paints, for example, as well as in goods such as clothing, furniture and household appliances.

This is why a lot of EU companies are affected by the regulation. To comply with the requirements set out in the regulation, companies must Passion for sofas

identify and manage the risks linked with the

alternatives. This regulation came into force on 1 June 2007.

Oeko-Tex® Oeko-Tex® is an international trademark for textile testing and a certification system.

Oeko-Tex®-certified products guarantee that no chemicals or surface treatments harmful to humans have been used. For more information, please see: www.oeko-tex.com.

The knowledge hub Easy-clean fabrics P. 7

Easy-clean fabrics Our fabric hangers provide additional informa-

Efficiency is a registered quality trademark that

tion, washing instructions and how to care for

offers eco-friendly, durable fabrics that are easy

the fabric. We also have two different types

to clean. These are very hardwearing, with

of fabrics with even more added value when it

double weave technology for stronger seams

comes to washing and eco-friendly benefits

and durability. The spinning and weaving technique is what makes the fabric resistant.

Easy-clean fabrics work by very slowly absorbing liquids and dirt that may come into contact

• The material is biodegradable or recyclable.

with your furniture. If an accident happens, it is easy to clean the stain off – simply rub it with a

• A unique production process minimises waste

clean cloth and water. For larger stains, place

(and what waste is created is recycled).

the fabric cover in the washing machine at 40 degrees Celsius. The high quality polypropylene

• A unique and thoroughly tested system

and polyester yarns used make this fabric

makes it easy to remove stains such as

particularly resistant to wear and tear.

grease, ketchup and coffee

An additional high-speed tumble dryer in the production process makes it softer.

The fabric’s yarns are specially selected to give you the best quality, and an additional treatment

Take a look at our website for more information

makes the fabric particularly soft. The fabric is

and videos on how to clean Efficiency and

double-woven for better durability. The produc-

Easy-clean fabrics.

tion process is optimised for eco-friendliness.

Fibre Guard/Easy Care

If your fabric is stained, wash it with a clean cloth

The unique and thoroughly tested FibreGuard and Easy Care systems make it easy to remove stains such as grease, ketchup and coffee. These are trademarks or designations of different suppliers.

Fibre Guard and Easy Care have nothing to do with durability, but are more to do with the fact that

and textile wash. For larger stains, machine wash at 30 degrees without worrying about shrinkage or fading. Turn the covers inside out to reduce wear and tear. Follow the machine’s instructions as regards maximum weight, as an overloaded washing machine can cause folds and creases.

Stretch the fabric when wet.

the fabric is treated or woven in a way that makes it more resistant to dirt and easier to keep clean.

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The knowledge hub Test methods P. 8

Test methods We state three different values for all our fabric samples to make it easy for the customer to choose the one that suits them best. Martindale, pilling and lightfastness tests are carried out according to an international standard.

Pilling (EN ISO 12945-2) There are a number of different machines that examine how easily pills form on the surface of the fabric: see Martindale. Pilling is assessed on a scale of 1 to 5. The pilling value that we state

Martindale (EN ISO 12947-2)

is the one determined after 2,000 wear cycles.

Martindale is a unit indicating how durable a

a pilling value of 4 or 5. Materials such as

fabric is. To measure this, you use a machine

wool and acrylic have a higher tendency to pill

where the fabric is tensioned and held in place

compared to polyester, for instance. This is why

while a fabric-covered plate rotates against it.

many furniture fabrics often consist of a blend of

The number of turns required before the threads

different materials. The scale is exponential, i.e.

break determines the value. Fabrics made of

the fabric is twice as resistant to pilling for each

natural materials often have a significantly

level.

Most of the sofas that we sell at Furninova have

lower Martindale than fabrics made of synthetic materials. At Furninova, we have decided that our fabrics should be able to withstand at least 25,000 turns. Martindale is also used for the pilling test.

The wear resistance of the fabric is greatly influenced by the design of the furniture itself, such as its shape and the filling used.

The wear resistance is dependent on both the fibre material and the binding.

The wear resistance requirements of furniture fabrics are measured in three classes

Values: • 1–2 = high risk of pilling, • 3 = medium risk of pilling, • 4–5 = low risk of pilling.

We can never guarantee that the fabric will never pill. It depends not only on the fabric, but also very much on wear and tear and how you use your sofa.

Lightfastness (EN ISO 105-B02) In the lightfastness test, the fabric is tested and placed in a machine set to expose the fabric to a

Basic requirement = at least 15,000 turns High requirements = at least 25,000 turns

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Very high requirements = at least 50,000 turns

certain type of light for a specified time.

The fabric is then evaluated against a reference scale of fabrics exposed at the same time as

The knowledge hub Comfort P. 9

your fabric. The scale comes out with 8 different appearances, where number 1 has been bleached and number 8 has not changed at all. The values for fabrics intended for indoor use are usually from 4 to 6. The best values, 7 and 8, almost only include fabrics for outdoor use.

Being familiar with the different methods above will help you choose the best fabric for a particular application. If you intend to place your furniture in areas next to large windows, for instance, it is a good idea to look at lightfastness once again. If the sofa is intended for a large family with children and pets, you should have another look at pilling and the Martindale values. Hair and outer fibres can also cause a chemical reaction.

Shrinkage The fabric shrinks or stretches when it is washed, depending on its properties. The mechanical change that occurs in the wash, the quality of the detergent, the washing temperature and the drying method all influence the final result.

It is important to follow the washing instructions.

Moreover, the fabric must always be shaped correctly when you hang it to dry. This reduces the shrinkage of the fabric. According to the general principle, shrinkage of less than 3% is not specified for interior textiles.

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The knowledge hub Care P. 10

Take care of your sofa Get to know your sofa

General maintenance

The upholstery will be more taut when you first

• Air and vacuum your furniture regularly, as

start using your brand new furniture. It is not

dirt increases wear and tear. Use the nozzle

uncommon in the first month to see some new

designed for stuffed furnishings and textiles.

folds where the upholstery has been stretched out. This is normal and happens when the materials adapt and yield to your sitting habits.

• Do not place your furniture in direct sunlight or too close to a heat source.

• Furniture must always be stored at normal

After the first month, depending on the use,

room temperature. Moisture and cold could

the materials will have adapted to one another

damage your furniture.

and so there will be less stretching after that.

• If the design of the model allows, change the cushion location and turn them over from

Good advice Cleaning your sofa regularly by vacuuming it on low power once a week is an important part of your sofa maintenance. The stuffing of your sofa will change over time with use. That is why it is important to turn back and seat cushions regularly, if possible. Similarly, it is a good idea to find a new favourite spot on your sofa occasionally – this will help reduce uneven wear and tear. Following this advice will help your sofa to retain its shape and stay comfortable for much longer.

Give a little love If you have cushions filled with feathers, it is important to fluff them up regularly, ideally every day. Doing this will ensure they do not become flat and lose their original shape.

If possible, change their locations as well, and rotate them so that they wear evenly. It is only natural for cushions to become softer and more Passion for sofas

comfortable to sit on. They will mould to your sitting habits over time.

time to time so as to ensure even wear and tear on upholstery and stuffing.

• Fabrics and leather stretch a little with use, so you will sometimes need to adjust the upholstery.

• If you have a piece of furniture with ball fibre or feather filling, you need to fluff up the upholstery regularly to keep it in good shape.

• Always treat stains straight away, and seek professional help if necessary.

The knowledge hub Care P. 11

Fabric care

Leather care

All fabrics have different care instructions

Different leathers have different care instructions.

depending on the type of material they are

Check which leather you have purchased, and

made from and how they are woven.

get in touch with your furniture dealer for help

Each removable cover comes with washing

with selecting leather care products suitable for

instructions specific to the fabric you selected.

the leather used for your furniture.

If your upholstery can be wet washed, you can

The furniture may become slightly darker in

wash most of the upholstery in your washing

colour when using these products, but this will

machine. Large covers are best left to laundries,

diminish over time.

as small washing machines do not usually have enough water capacity. Spin at a moderate

Remember:

speed, do not tumble dry. Put the cover on before the upholstery has dried completely – this makes it easier to put it on correctly.

• If you accidentally spill liquid, dab/absorb it using a clean cloth.

• Wipe with a slightly damp cloth, do not use

Remember:

strong detergents.

• Never be tempted to rub the stain.

• Always treat any stains straight away.

• Follow the instructions for your chosen

• Get in touch with a specialist if you are not sure how to treat a stain.

fabric.

• Place an absorbent undyed paper or fabric on the underside of the stained textile.

• Always avoid rubbing the fabric directly as this may cause colour loss and pilling.

• Get in touch with a specialist if you are not sure how to treat a stain.

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The knowledge hub Our leathers P. 12

Our different leather qualities Our leathers come from 6 different tanneries

the leather more resistant to stains, dirt and spills

in Europe – mainly from Italy. All our suppliers

and is suitable for sofas for families with children,

operate in compliance with REACH.

for instance.

Leather is a natural product. Our leathers are made from carefully selected natural products

Corrected/pigmented leather

that vary in appearance in much the same way

Corrected leather is leather made from the top

that wood and marble vary. This means in turn

layer of the hide, where the outer layer has been

that all leathers are unique, helping to tell the

ground away. This is done to remove various

story of the material. Variations in a leather are

marks such as insect bites, barbed wire cuts,

not defects, but should be seen as a sign that the

scratches and other stains. The skin is ground or

leather is genuine. Its individuality is what sets it

buffed before a protective coating is applied

apart from artificial leather. Leather is a residual

and an artificial texture is embossed into the

product – no animals are slaughtered just for the

surface. This type of leather is the most regular

sake of leather. Between 35 and 50% becomes

across the entire hide in terms of pattern and

waste. This waste is used to make bags, shoes,

colour. It has a less natural appearance than

etc.

aniline or semianiline, but is highly resistant to spills and scratches and so requires less main-

• Grained leather, or the hair side of the leather, is always used on seating surfaces

tenance than other types of leather. It is suitable for sofas for families with children, for instance.

and the surfaces you can touch when sitting on furnishings.

• On the back of the furniture in price group

Semianiline

10–30 we have split leather (split is a

Semianiline leather is an aniline leather that

leather layer that is usually processed by

is dyed through and has been treated with an

machine so that it resembles grained leather

additional protective layer in order to increase

and can be matched with it).

its resistance to stains. The natural marks found

• The furniture in price group 56 onwards only uses full leather.

on an aniline leather can also be found on a semianiline leather in some cases.

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This leather is generally comfortable and offers

Standard leathers

good breathability. Semianiline leather is less

These leathers have defects in the grain that

resistant to stains and scratches. This makes it

needs to be ground and sometimes filled before

more user-friendly than real aniline and more

being top-coated and embossed. This makes

suitable for households with pets and children.

cold in winter, less sticky in summer and more

The knowledge hub Our leathers P. 13

Aniline

Nubuck

Aniline leather is a premium leather. Pure aniline

Nubuck is a lightly ground, dyed-through aniline

is treated with transparent, soluble dyes which

leather with open pores. Nubuck is a living

preserve the natural surface of the skin so that

leather that breathes and absorbs moisture,

all the animal’s pores, scars and marks remain

liquids and natural fats. The appearance can

visible. This is the most genuine and luxurious

vary from hide to hide, with variation in texture

leather money can buy. Soft and supple to the

and colour and marks from insect bites, scars

touch, it has a rustic, textured look and every

and scrapes, for example. These variations

hide is unique, like a fingerprint. Over time,

are characteristic of real leather, proving that

aniline leather develops the rich patina so

the leather is genuine. The leather takes on a

desired by leather connoisseurs. Unlike most

character and patina all of its own through use,

other materials, this leather only improves with

making it more beautiful as it ages. Our nubuck

age. That said, patina can be an advantage

undergoes treatment to make it more resistant

or a disadvantage, depending on what you’re

to spills and stains. This lasts about 2 years

looking for. The minimal treatment of this leather

depending on use.

makes it more prone to stains and scratches, and it normally needs more care than other types of leather. Only 5% of all leather on the market nowadays is suitable for aniline leather.

If you want your leather to age beautifully, it has to be treated with leather care products designed for it. This should be done about 3 or 4 times a year.

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The knowledge hub At the tannery P. 14

What happens at the tannery Tanning This process, which takes about 48 hours, makes the hides stable and easy to handle.

The hides turn a grey-blue colour.

Splitting The 6 to 8 mm thick hide is split in two. The upper part is known as grained leather, while the lower part is called split leather. We use the split to apply parts to the furniture that are not seats and

and corrected and turned into a standard leather, which has an embossed pattern and no open pores at all – a corrected leather, but still a grained leather.

Dyeing through All the hides are dyed through, which gives them their final base colour.

Drying

wear surfaces. The grained leather – the upper

The hides are stretched and dried in different

part of the hide, that is – is very hardwearing

ways depending on what they are going to be

and is used in the furniture industry, for example,

made into.

where high durability is required.

Testing Sorting

Testing of the final product is very important in

Final inspection of the grained leather takes

order to determine the durability, flame retar-

place manually. The leather is sorted according

dance, lightfastness, dry chafing, wet chafing,

to damage to the grain: the finest hides with the

sweat chafing, finish adhesion, tear strength and

least damage are turned into aniline or semi-

thickness of the leather. All these aspects are

aniline. Only 5% of hides are turned into

tested on each batch of finished leather.

exclusive aniline leather. Note that a semianiline leather may only be called semianiline if the

It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to get from rawhide

grain is untouched. The leather is called

to finished leather.

corrected leather if the grain is ground before

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dyeing. Hides with a lot of marks are ground

The knowledge hub General terms and conditions P. 15

General terms and conditions Fabrics/leathers

Returns

Only Furninova’s own fabrics and leathers can

Goods may not be returned without Furninova’s

be used. See the separate list of fabrics and

consent. Notification should be submitted to

leathers. Leather is not sold separately.

Furninova for prompt and correct processing

Cutting fee SEK 100 when ordering fabric only.

of returns. Returns not sent in accordance with

Fabrics are sold in whole metres only.

Furninova’s procedures will not be accepted.

For more information about spare parts,

Changes

please contact our office: tel: +46 (0)451 775 610 email: info@furninova.se

Any changes to our order confirmations must be made within two working days. Furninova AB reserves the right to correct any printing errors in

Measurements

the price list.

Measurements may vary by +/-3% depending

Miscellaneous

on the choice of upholstery and combination.

Complaints

Leather not sold separately. Cutting fee SEK 100 when ordering fabric only. Fabrics are sold in whole metres only.

Complaints are submitted to Furninova’s claims department. Visible transport

For more information about spare parts,

damage must be noted on the consignment note

please contact our office:

on receipt. Furninova must be notified promptly if

tel: +46 (0)451 775 610

products are damaged in transit, no later than 7

email: info@furninova.se

days after delivery.

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