Modern Retro Upholstery Fabric

If you need to reupholster a piece of vintage furniture, here’s what sounds like a great source for mid century modern style fabrics by major designers at discount prices. We’ve just discovered which sources up to 1, 000 bolts of discarded fabric every week from the excess generated during the manufacture of luxury residential and commercial furniture. They sell this remnant yardage — available in quantities from one yard to 15+ yards — at a discount of 40-60% off the retail price. Because today’s high-end furniture market is so mid century modern mad, quite a few of the upholstery fabric designs we see on the website look like they would be great for retro upholstery projects.

From the press release:

Since 2007, James and Ewa Powell have been reclaiming designer textiles — not just scraps, but also bolts of leftovers. The Powells, owners of Modern Fabrics, collect and sell these fabrics at a 40 to 60 percent discount through their website (www.modern-fabrics.com) and storefront in Charlotte, NC.

In the early days, the couple found themselves dumpster diving to rescue discarded excess fabrics but today they are exclusive buyers at many outlets. “We’re no longer driving around in our Subaru begging for fabric, ” James says. “We’ve forged long-term business relationships and positioned ourselves as a company that wants — and gets — the best fabrics.”

Modern Fabrics sources up to 1, 000 bolts of discarded fabric every week from the excess generated during the manufacture of luxury residential and commercial furniture. These fabrics are brand new, immediately ready to be reused for furniture, cushions, craft or interior design projects.

James says, “Some companies, such as Knoll, Maharam and Herman Miller, are ahead of the curve, understanding the importance of showing the provenance of a fabric.”

At Modern Fabrics, they go to great lengths to ID the fabrics, noting the textile brands, patterns, colorways, collections, fabric content, and origin, making it easier to find fabrics by specific designers, favorite patterns, or old favorites that have been discontinued.

The company operates a 6, 000 square-foot shop in Charlotte’s SouthEnd neighborhood and a warehouse in nearby Lincolnton, NC.