Fabrics and Leather For Your Recliner Or Lift Chair

Most recliner chairs in the West Dawson range are available in a range of fabrics, leathers, vinyls, and synthetic waterproof fabrics.

When choosing high quality furniture, it is important to use correspondingly high quality fabrics and leather. Recliners require specific fabrics. Fabrics that have high cotton or linen content are not appropriate on recliners.

Recliner Fabrics

Fabrics have a confusing range of names depending on how they are made: velvets, chenilles, tapestries, weaves, linens, damasks, and jacquards are just some of the styles available.

We have thousands of different recliner fabrics available, and will advise you on the most appropriate fabric for your needs and budget.

Over the last 10 years new construction methods and fibre technology have made fabrics stronger and more durable, whilst at the same time being softer and easier to clean.

Warwick Microfibre Fabrics

Microfibre fabrics are built with such a tight weave that they are difficult to stain. We have tested these fabrics against biro, coffee, chocolate, texta, grease, beetroot, blood and tomato sauce. These stains clean off with warm soap and water.

Macrosuede, Macrohide, Macrosoft, Aurorasuede and Globalsuede are some of the Warwick range of microfibre fabrics. Not only are they stain resistant but they are incredibly strong, and have a Very Heavy Duty Commercial rating for durability. Because the microfibre fabrics are woven, they breathe.

Available in hundreds of colours and with a variety of finishes, the Warwick Microfibre range is the best material available to cover recliners.

See below for the range of colours available in the Warwick Macrosuede and Globalsuede range. Colour reproductions on screen are not completely accurate.

Recliner Leather

The huge supply of leather in the world means that leather is less of a luxury product than it was in the past. All West Dawson recliners use the highest quality cow leather.

Leather comes in two basic types – top grain leather, and split hide leather. For recliner furniture, top grain leather is the only type that will offer long-term high-durability quality.

Leather is animal skin. Like human skin, it grows up from underneath, binding together as it approaches the surface. Leather pelts are almost an inch thick when produced. These pelts are “split”apart, creating two pieces of leather that approximately 6mm thick. The top piece (top-grain) is much more durable than the bottom piece (split-hide).

When buying high-quality leather, you must insist on top-grain leather. Split hide leather stretches, and over time leaves a puddle on the seat of the chair.

Top grain leather has the natural animal markings (grain) on the surface of the leather. Variation across the leather is normal. Split hide leather has no natural animal markings, so a grain is embossed onto the leather. As it is printed it repeats across the surface. Split-hide leather is detectable through careful examination of the leather.

Synthetic Leather: Vinyls and Polypropylenes

Modern vinyls are now softer and feel more natural than in the past. Many varieties of synthetic leather exist. We recommend Warwick Lustrell and Wortley Cordova for recliners.

Vinyls are recommended in health care situations, as they can be sprayed and wiped clean.