We were asked: “Can you lighten a faux fur with hydrogen peroxide”.
You can guess the answer: try it out on a sample first or on piece you won’t see. However to be honest I don’t think it would work on most faux furs.
Hydrogen peroxide is a relatively weak bleach. Typically it is used on natural materials like human hair or linen. Faux furs or fake furs are normally synthetic.
It depends on what exactly the faux fur is made out of, this could be a variety of compounds. It might work on one or two compunds but I doubt it will have much of an effect on most.
Many of these fabric companies sell a wide range of products including: chenille, contract fabric, faux / fake leather, mohair velvet, linen velvet, cotton velvet, wool, hand woven products, natural silk, cashmere and damask for upholstery, curtains and cushions.
Fabrics are often woven in lengths of 50m, 100m or more. Manufacturers and distributors then hold these lengths and at some point a designer buys a smaller cut-length. If subsequently the fabric is damaged when being made up or if the end-client has requirements for additional fabric, then more is ordered. So far so good? But exactly which roll is the additional fabric going to be cut from?
It is important to realise that there can be variation in the dyes used. Normally manufacturers keep a record of the exact dye(s) used in the manufacturing process(es). This is a dye lot. The dye could have been added to make a coloured yarn early in the process or it could have been added to the fibre later if it is a printed fabric.
So when more fabric is ordered for the same client it is important to ensure the same dye lot was used as for the original order.
Variations do occur in almost all fabrics. So if the same dye lot cannot be re-ordered it is prudent for the designer to order a sample for matching. It is wise for designers, upholsterers, curtain- and cushion-makers to always request a sample to avoid costly mistakes.
Typically man-made/synthetic dyes are more easily chemically replicated and so are inherently less prone to dye lot variation. For natural products there is a much greater chance of variation. But again there is no hard and fast rule.
Colour also plays a part as some farbic colours are more prone to change because of the chemical structure of the dye and/or the fabric being used.
What if all the stock has been used and there is a variation? Do we have to start again?
Hopefully not and common sense has to prevail from time to time. For example, a dye lot variation can be negated by conditions in the final installation. So in the case where there are fabrics from different dye lots with one dye lot only used in each room only rarely will the be any noticeable difference from room to room. Even in the case where, say, curtains on different walls are made from different but similar dye lots then any dye lot variation can be made unnoticeable by the effect of varying amounts of sunlight through windows. Although bear in mind there are variations in the strength and type of light throughout the day and between sunlight and artificial light at night. Similarly in low light (cellar) conditions dye lot variation will be much less noticeable.
Finally bear in mind the age of the fabric/curtains and the degree to which they have been exposed to sunlight. Some fabrics naturally fade over time, depending on their colour fastness. In this case it is unlikely ever to be able to get a perfect match.
LONDON, England. 04-MAY-2009 11.30 AM: KOTHEA today announced it has expanded its product range by the addition of KOTWIG. KOTWIG has an off-the-wall textured design. It has a high Martindale score which is unusually achieved without incorporating polyester. It is highly suitable for a wide range of uses including heavy upholstery and wall treatments in either domestic or contract installations.
Primary Usage: General upholstery or wall treatments, contract & domestic.
Type of fabric: Textured Weave
About KOTHEA.
KOTHEA are a top-market fabric house based in London serving customers throughout all of Europe and The Middle East. Founded in 1999 they have since continued to develop and sell an extensive range of timeless fabrics to the top architects, interior- and yacht-designers for projects ranging from mega-yachts to boutique hotels and from luxury spas to penthouses.
KOTHEA operate on a trade-only basis and their fabrics are available to the public through interior designers and specialist interior design shops such as Gotham, Interiors Bis and Fiona Campbell. KOTHEA also supply beautiful hand-woven linen fabrics and finished goods – throws and table linen.
KOTHEA’s trade customers would perceive their signature fabrics to include several ranges of velvet including the exclusive ‘cashmere silk velvet’, silks, linens, double-width sheers, faux leather and interesting weaves for upholstery often with high Martindale ‘rub tests’ making them highly suited to both contract and residential projects.
Founder and Executive Director, Lisa Parsons started KOTHEA more than 10 years ago after 11 highly successful years with Nobilis Fontan in Chelsea and Donghia in Chelsea Harbour. She says, “At KOTHEA we like to think we bring something a little different to the market. Our difference will be reflected in our customers’ eyes by unusual fabrics that complement our core fabric ranges; all augmented by our excellent levels of customers service, market knowledge and attention to detail.”
We have been absolutely hectic at KOTHEA this year. Some new velvets are coming on board as I write and we have been concentrating a lot more as well on European business this year.
There are a few new marketing activities we have planned which should hopefully add a little value to the interior design community rather than just trying to sell stuff to them, so watch this space and your in-box for more information on that.
We have tried to offer as full a range of velvets as possible: cotton velvets; linen velvets; cashmere silk velvets; silk velvets; mohair velvets and so on. We are thought about offering a budget range as well but decided in the end not to tarnish our strong quality brand. I think we made the right choice.
KOTHEA use TFT in Ilkley for fabric testing. We recently had some Mohair Velvet and Cotton Velvet tested there for Cribe 5 / Crib 5. They are UKAS accredited.
LONDON, England. 06-APR-2009 11.30 AM: KOTHEA today announced it has expanded its product range by the addition of KOCOSMIC. KOCOSMIC is a little bit quirky; like a faux skin without trying too hard to mimic nature. It has high rubs and is suitable for a wide range of uses including heavy upholstery and wall treatments in either domestic or contract installations.
KOCOSMIC
Reference: 03-004-378
Colour Shown: 3 Silver
Other Colourways: 19
Width: 140cm
Repeat: None
Composition: 100% Cotton base cloth, 95% Vinyl 5%, Polyurethane outer.
Martindale: BS5690 100,000
Primary Usage: Heavy upholstery, wall treatments, contract & domestic.
Type of fabric: Vinyl
Other: Passes BS5852 Schedule 4 Part 1 Cigarette Test, Schedule 5 Part 1 Match Test and Crib 5.
About KOTHEA.
KOTHEA are a top-market fabric house based in London serving customers throughout all of Europe and The Middle East. Founded in 1999 they have since continued to develop and sell an extensive range of timeless fabrics to the top architects, interior- and yacht-designers for projects ranging from mega-yachts to boutique hotels and from luxury spas to penthouses.
KOTHEA operate on a trade-only basis and their fabrics are available to the public through interior designers and specialist interior design shops such as Gotham, Interiors Bis and Fiona Campbell. KOTHEA also supply beautiful hand-woven linen fabrics and finished goods – throws and table linen.
KOTHEA’s trade customers would perceive their signature fabrics to include several ranges of velvet including the exclusive ‘cashmere silk velvet’, silks, linens, double-width sheers, faux leather and interesting weaves for upholstery often with high Martindale ‘rub tests’ making them highly suited to both contract and residential projects.
Founder and Executive Director, Lisa Parsons started KOTHEA more than 10 years ago after 11 highly successful years with Nobilis Fontan in Chelsea and Donghia in Chelsea Harbour. She says, “At KOTHEA we like to think we bring something a little different to the market. Our difference will be reflected in our customers’ eyes by unusual fabrics that complement our core fabric ranges; all augmented by our excellent levels of customers service, market knowledge and attention to detail.”
# # #
For Further Information
Please visit the company web site at https://www.kothea.com
Trademarks
KOTHEA is a registered trade mark of KOTHEA Limited. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
We have been lucky enough to be getting quite a lot of coverage of our new ranges for 2009. This year we decided to have a gradual month-by-month release of new designs rather than the usual Spring and Autumn collections…we’re not a clothes fashion company after all.
Have a look at some of our thoughts on the year ahead as shown in the excellent on-line design directory The House Directory. An excerpt from the MARCH 2009 edition is shown below.
For a sneak preview of some of our new fabrics we have a 2009 flickr feed.
LONDON, England. 02-MAR-2009 11.30 AM: KOTHEA today announced it has expanded its product range by the addition of KODEKOBA, a fabric suitable for domestic upholstery. KODEKOBA has an unusual weave and texture. The striking weave makes the fabric highly suited for high visibility areas.
KODEKOBA
Reference: 02-001-386
Colour Shown: Light Brown
Other colourways: 3
Width: 140cm
Repeat: None
Composition: 55% Cotton, 26% Viscose, 9% Polyester.
Martindale: 18,000 ‘rubs’
Primary Usage: Residential upholstery & Cushions.
Type of fabric: Textured Weave
About KOTHEA.
KOTHEA are a top-market fabric house based in London serving customers throughout all of Europe and The Middle East. Founded in 1999 they have since continued to develop and sell an extensive range of timeless fabrics to the top architects, interior- and yacht-designers for projects ranging from mega-yachts to boutique hotels and from luxury spas to penthouses.
KOTHEA operate on a trade-only basis and their fabrics are available to the public through interior designers and specialist interior design shops such as Gotham, Interiors Bis and Fiona Campbell. KOTHEA also supply beautiful hand-woven linen fabrics and finished goods – throws and table linen.
KOTHEA’s trade customers would perceive their signature fabrics to include several ranges of velvet including the exclusive ‘cashmere silk velvet’, silks, linens, double-width sheers, faux leather and interesting weaves for upholstery often with high Martindale ‘rub tests’ making them highly suited to both contract and residential projects.
Founder and Executive Director, Lisa Parsons started KOTHEA more than 10 years ago after 11 highly successful years with Nobilis Fontan in Chelsea and Donghia in Chelsea Harbour. She says, “At KOTHEA we like to think we bring something a little different to the market. Our difference will be reflected in our customers’ eyes by unusual fabrics that complement our core fabric ranges; all augmented by our excellent levels of customers service, market knowledge and attention to detail.”
# # #
For Further Information
Please visit the company web site at https://www.kothea.com
Trademarks
KOTHEA is a registered trade mark of KOTHEA Limited. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
