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Four upholstery fabrics show how a workplace can gain character without relying on paint alone: Maharam’s kite-inspired Midair, Kvadrat Febrik’s knitted Rumor, Designtex’s striped River Lea and The Thames, and Luum Textiles’ quilted Limitless Loop. They differ in weave, surface, pattern scale and colour strategy. The descriptions below come from Kendra Jackson’s Azure Magazine roundup published February 29, 2024; use them as a design comparison, then obtain current technical documentation before specifying any fabric for a contract interior.
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| Textile | Construction and surface | Pattern character | Colourway structure | Material detail reported in the roundup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharam Midair | Woven upholstery fabric | Patterns based on Jacob Hashimoto’s suspended kite sculptures; explores opacity, transparency and neutrality | 19 patterns; six colourways, each with 11 tones | Designed by New York-based multimedia artist Jacob Hashimoto |
| Kvadrat Febrik Rumor | Knitted textile with a dimpled, elastic surface | Energetic, tactile field suitable for applications where a seamless look is useful | Nine colourways, each combining four stitched hues | Reported as the brand’s first knitted textile made from more than 70 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester; this is a product claim, not independently verified certification in the available material |
| Designtex The Thames | Finish-free upholstery construction | Bold, thick stripes | Five colourways | Created with British studio Wallace Sewell |
| Designtex River Lea | Finish-free upholstery construction | Thinner, striated pinstripe | Six colourways | Created with British studio Wallace Sewell |
| Luum Textiles Limitless Loop | Tactile quilted surface with three-dimensional contours | Geometric curves inspired by fractal patterns in nature | Six colourways | Nylon embroidery fades in intensity along the quilted contours; part of Suzanne Tick’s Organized Complexity collection |
These figures describe the products as presented in the 2024 article, not as laboratory comparisons. No comparative abrasion, cleanability, flammability, colourfastness, warranty, price or availability data is established here.
Maharam Midair: tonal depth from a woven pattern
Midair translates Jacob Hashimoto’s three-dimensional suspended installations into a woven upholstery surface. The visual idea is not a literal picture of a kite; it is an interpretation of the repeated, layered forms found in his handmade kite sculptures. That makes the fabric useful when a project needs movement and depth without a highly figurative motif.
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The colour system is deliberately nuanced. Each colourway is built from multiple tones, so a chair or panel can read as a quiet neutral from a distance while revealing shifts in density and transparency up close. This is especially effective in spaces where furniture is viewed from several angles, such as open-plan work areas, reception seating and collaborative lounges. The woven structure gives the pattern a stable, composed appearance rather than the soft relief of a knit or quilt.
Midair is a strong choice when the design brief calls for a layered, atmospheric effect that can sit between solid upholstery and an obvious graphic. Because the pattern family is broad, teams should inspect the actual strike-offs or full-width samples to understand scale, repeat and how the tonal transitions appear on a particular chair shape. A small memo sample can hide changes that become prominent when the fabric is wrapped around a large panel.
Kvadrat Febrik Rumor: knitted colour and a dimpled hand
Rumor was developed by designer Bertjan Pot through a combination of digital photo-editing programs and traditional knitting techniques. Its identity comes from the knitted construction: the surface is dimpled, visibly tactile and described as elastic. That relief can make a simple bench, screen or lounge element feel more dimensional without adding a separate pattern layer.
Each colourway combines four hues stitched together, producing a lively, blended effect rather than a single flat shade. In a workplace palette, that complexity can help bridge several surrounding colours: a multi-hue upholstery can pick up accents from carpet, wall finishes or graphics while remaining more forgiving of small variations in lighting. The energetic character is best suited to settings that want an informal, social atmosphere, such as touchdown areas, creative studios, learning spaces or hospitality-style meeting zones.
The roundup reports that Rumor is made from more than 70 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester and describes it as the manufacturer’s first knitted textile with that level of recycled content. Treat the percentage as a stated product claim. For a project with environmental reporting requirements, request the current composition statement, chain-of-custody or certification documents, and any applicable environmental product declarations directly from the supplier.
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Elasticity also deserves practical attention. Before ordering, ask how the fabric is intended to behave on curved backs, tight corners, removable covers and seams. A textile that is advantageous for a seamless appearance may require a particular upholsterer’s method or approved adhesive system. Those installation details are not supplied by the roundup and should be confirmed in the current technical sheet.
Designtex River Lea and The Thames: two stripe scales from one collaboration
Designtex developed River Lea and The Thames with British studio Wallace Sewell, led by Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell. They are related fabrics, but their stripe scales create different visual rhythms and should not be treated as interchangeable versions of one pattern.
The Thames: a confident, architectural stripe
The Thames uses thick stripes. On a banquette, headboard or acoustic panel, broad bands can establish direction and make a long run of furniture read as a single architectural gesture. Depending on how the roll is oriented, the stripes can emphasize width, height or a sequence of modules. That makes pattern planning important: the upholsterer should know whether the intended effect is horizontal, vertical or deliberately mismatched at seams.
Its finish-free construction keeps the surface description straightforward and lets the stripe do the visual work. Five colourways give a focused palette, which can be helpful when a project wants a recognizable accent fabric repeated across several rooms without introducing many unrelated options.
River Lea: a quieter pinstripe
River Lea uses a thinner, striated pinstripe. The finer line creates a more restrained reading at a distance and a richer texture close to the surface. It can support task chairs, meeting seating or wall panels where a solid would feel too plain but a broad stripe would dominate.
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Because the stripe is narrow, seams and directional changes can alter the apparent continuity. Request a full-width sample and discuss matching requirements with the upholsterer before finalizing quantities. River Lea has six colourways, giving it a slightly wider selection for coordinating with wood, metal, paint and flooring than The Thames, but the visual relationship between the two fabrics remains the main reason to specify them together.
Luum Textiles Limitless Loop: quilted relief with fading embroidery
Limitless Loop belongs to Suzanne Tick’s Organized Complexity collection for Luum Textiles. Its tactile quilted surface creates physical relief, while geometric curves echo fractal patterns found in nature. Nylon embroidery follows those contours and fades in intensity along the three-dimensional forms, so the eye moves across the surface instead of stopping at a single hard-edged motif.
This is the most overtly dimensional option in the group. It can turn a modest ottoman, banquette back or feature panel into a focal point without requiring a separate decorative layer. The curved geometry is more fluid than a stripe and more structured than an all-over organic texture, making it suitable for projects that want pattern but still need a disciplined, contemporary language.
Quilting changes how light and shadow play over the upholstery. Review samples under the actual workplace lighting, including side light and direct downlight, because the relief can look subtler in diffuse daylight and more pronounced in directional illumination. Confirm how the quilting is expected to perform on the specific furniture profile; the source describes the appearance, not approved fabrication limits or maintenance procedures.
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To add movement without a bold graphic
Start with Midair. Its layered tonal approach can provide depth while keeping the overall impression measured. It is the most naturally suited to a neutral scheme that needs variation rather than a high-contrast statement.
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To make a social zone feel energetic
Rumor’s knitted dimpling and four-hue colour blends create immediate surface activity. Use it where people gather and where a tactile, informal cue supports the workplace concept. Check elasticity and fabrication requirements before committing to complex curves or tight upholstery.
To give furniture a clear directional order
Choose The Thames when broad bands should organize a room or reinforce the geometry of a built-in. Choose River Lea when you want the same general language at a finer, quieter scale. In either case, decide the stripe direction and seam strategy during design development, not after fabric is delivered.
To create a feature surface people notice up close
Limitless Loop uses quilting, curved geometry and fading embroidery to reward close viewing. It is the strongest candidate for a signature piece, provided the project team can support the required fabrication and care instructions.
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A design image is only the first decision. A contract upholstery specification must establish whether a textile is appropriate for the furniture, the users and the maintenance regime.
- Define the application. Record whether the fabric will cover task seating, occasional chairs, a banquette, a screen, a wall panel or another element. State expected traffic, exposure to food and drink, and whether covers must be removable.
- Request the current technical sheet. Ask for independently measured abrasion resistance, cleaning codes and methods, colourfastness, seam or stretch guidance, flammability compliance for the project’s jurisdiction, width, repeat and composition. None of those comparative values is supplied by the Azure Magazine roundup.
- Verify environmental statements. For Rumor, obtain documentation supporting the stated post-consumer recycled content if the project has a sustainability standard or reporting obligation. Do not substitute a marketing percentage for a required certification.
- Review full-scale samples. Inspect colour, pattern repeat, hand, relief and directional effects under the workplace’s lighting. A memo sample cannot reliably show how a stripe, quilt or multi-tone weave will look across a full chair or wall panel.
- Coordinate fabrication. Confirm pattern orientation, matching at seams, allowable stretch, corner treatment, quilting or embroidery constraints and any approved adhesives or backing systems with the upholsterer.
- Confirm supply before release. Check current stock, dye lot, lead time, minimum order, replacement availability and shipping region with the supplier. The 2024 roundup does not establish current availability, geographic sales channels or prices.
- Document care and warranty terms. Give the facilities team the approved cleaning method and replacement-fabric reference, and record the warranty conditions that apply to the actual end use.
How to combine the four fabrics in one workplace
Use contrast in only one or two dimensions at a time. For example, a tonal Midair can anchor a reception chair while The Thames supplies a directional stripe on a nearby banquette. River Lea can carry the stripe idea into smaller pieces without competing at the same scale. Rumor introduces a knitted, dimpled surface for a social nook, and Limitless Loop can be reserved for one signature element where its relief will be visible.
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Keep the surrounding finishes comparatively calm when the upholstery already carries strong texture. A heavily patterned carpet, reflective wall finish and quilted upholstery can compete for attention; a quieter floor and wall field lets the textile remain legible. Conversely, a neutral architectural shell can support a more energetic Rumor colourway or a high-relief Limitless Loop feature.
Always test combinations as physical samples. Digital colour blocks cannot reproduce weave, knit dimpling, stripe scale, quilting shadows or the way adjacent materials alter perceived colour.
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What is established—and what still needs confirmation
The four fabrics are documented as design-led upholstery textiles with distinct construction and visual identities: woven tonal patterning, knitted multi-hue dimpling, two stripe scales in finish-free constructions, and quilted geometric relief. The named colourway and pattern counts are product details reported by Azure Magazine in February 2024.
The article does not establish a performance ranking, code compliance, pricing, stock status, lead times or a universal “best” fabric for every workplace. Those decisions depend on the furniture type, local regulations, cleaning program, procurement date and supplier documentation. Treat the roundup as a clear starting point for design selection, then make the final specification from current technical and commercial information.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
