SENTIENT ╲ Materials ╲ Fabric Options ╲ COM
COM
COM (Customer’s Own Material) allows designers and clients to supply project-specific textiles while using SENTIENT’s fabrication standards, patterning workflow, and upholstery execution. It is the most flexible path for matching established palettes, brand standards, and multi-vendor FF&E programs that require strict continuity. A strong COM process reduces procurement risk by aligning technical approvals, yardage, and fabrication sequencing before production begins.
Fabric Type
Procurement and specification workflow for client-supplied upholstery material, including technical review and production approval checkpoints.
Composition
COM can include woven textiles, coated fabrics, leather, and specialty materials provided by the client or design team. Material suitability depends on width, repeat, directionality, backing stability, seam behavior, and end-use conditions. Pattern scale, nap direction, and face-back construction can significantly affect cut plans, visual alignment, and final yardage consumption.
Characteristics
COM enables maximum design control and continuity across broad project packages, especially when multiple furniture categories must share the same textile language. It also introduces coordination requirements around lead times, reserve yardage, strike-offs, cut approvals, and clear liability boundaries for material defects or performance mismatch. Early technical review is essential to avoid rework when supplied goods are not appropriate for the intended upholstery geometry.
Best Use Cases
Best for hospitality and contract projects with pre-approved textiles, residential projects with tightly curated aesthetics, and brand-driven interiors requiring exact material continuity. COM is also useful when project teams already carry textile standards across drapery, wallcovering, and upholstery packages and need one coordinated approval process. It is less suitable for fast-turn programs where material confirmation and lead time certainty are not yet established.
Performance Considerations
Before approval, confirm abrasion metrics, seam slippage, flammability requirements, cleanability chemistry, and dye lot consistency. Repeat size, motif placement, and nap direction can materially increase required yardage and affect installation sequencing. For commercial programs, evaluate whether cleaning and disinfection requirements align with the supplied textile’s finish system and warranty conditions.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintenance follows the selected textile’s cleaning code and manufacturer instructions, not a single universal protocol. At submittal stage, provide complete care documentation so operations teams can clean correctly without invalidating warranties. For complex projects, include post-install care training and a replacement reserve plan to maintain visual consistency over the life of the installation.
Sources
- COM procedures in contract upholstery: Yardage, repeat, and approval workflow standards
- ACT and manufacturer spec frameworks: Performance verification prior to fabrication
Related Fabric Options
Commercial Grade Fabrics
Commercial grade fabrics are selected for repeated daily use, operational cleaning protocols, and predictable long-term service life.
Outdoor Fabric
Outdoor upholstery fabrics are engineered to resist UV fade, moisture cycling, and biological growth while keeping a stable color and hand-feel in exposed environments.
Leather
Leather delivers depth, tactility, and long-term character that few upholstery materials can match.
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Compare upholstery materials by feel, durability, and maintenance requirements.
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