Comfort in the car interior is provided not only by perfect cleanliness, but also by design. The interior design trim and car covers will help to emphasize the style of the car. A large selection of upholstery materials and patented technologies allow you to choose products taking into account many parameters. The appearance of new fabric names on the market requires careful review.
What can be said about Alcantara
A new type of artificial suede based on microfiber with an additional textile backing was named Alcantara. Developed in the 70s of the last century, the material quickly spread throughout Europe and Asia. Its performance characteristics and high aesthetics played a major role in the popularity of the fabric in the automotive industry.
The use of superfine polyester fiber in the production of Alcantara gives the material a shine and softness, making it similar to suede.
For your information! Non-woven fabric is widely used for home interior decoration, finishing in marine and aviation equipment, and in the production of consumer goods.
The Italian company Alcantara offers a wide range of high-quality automotive eco-suede. Genuine Alcantara is used in car interior tuning, solving the following problems:
- protection from possible contamination;
- improving the appearance of the interior;
- increasing the wear resistance and durability of the original upholstery;
- use for re-upholstering interiors, seats, ceilings;
- safe operation without harmful toxic emissions when heated;
- additional sound insulation;
- decoration of individual details and elements of the interior;
- increasing the practicality of vehicle operation.
Alcantara is used for upholstery of upholstered furniture, armchairs and poufs. The perforated surface with a textile backing is used for bicycle seats, tables for feeding babies.
The increased wear resistance of Alcantara compared to natural suede increases demand in the automotive market. Premium accessories add expressiveness and charm to the car.
For your information! The development of composite artificial suede in Japan was carried out by the Italian company Eni and the Japanese concern Toray. The production of fiber, consisting of two components and bonded with polyurethane, is a complex and expensive process. The patented production technology has its own trademark, under which the products and the material itself, which has many colors and textures, are sold.
The velvety surface of Alcantara car seat covers looks expensive.
Ultramicrofiber is used for sewing:
- clothing and accessories;
- handbags and purses;
- commercial and office furniture;
- interior decoration of catering premises;
- interior upholstery of yachts and ship cabins, train compartments and aircraft interiors.
Polyurethane gives the material special softness, polyester strength and wear resistance, and super-thin Alcantara fibers make it light. The fabric does not lose these characteristics in extreme cold and heat. The new material combines perfectly with natural and artificial leather.
What is meant by the term eco-leather
Alcantara is a leather substitute. Eco-leather is made from a mixture of pressed leather shavings, cotton fibers and polypropylene. The imitation of genuine leather is obtained due to similar characteristics:
- breathability;
- elasticity and wear resistance;
- water resistance.
Car seat covers made of eco-leather Alcantara are durable and easy to care for, which is why they are very popular among car enthusiasts.
The material consists of two layers. A polymer layer dyed in a certain color is applied to the woven fabric. Porous polyurethane gives the fabric a characteristic structure that allows air to pass through. The degree of rigidity and strength are regulated by the thickness of the polymer coating layer.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of Alcantara include:
- durability;
- wear resistance to mechanical impacts;
- dust and dirt repellent properties;
- ventilated fabric;
- high thermoregulation;
- anti-slip effect;
- visual beauty of the fabric;
- water resistance;
- strength.
When choosing Alcantara as car seat covers, you should take into account some features of the material:
- need for constant care;
- high cost compared to eco-leather;
- the difficulty of choice is due to the huge range;
- choice between model or universal type of car seat covers.
Alcantara or eco-leather: which is better
The choice between quality materials for covers made of fabric, genuine leather, Alcantara or eco-leather is complicated by the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. The presence of a color range, texture and style fades into the background.
Alcantara contains 32% polyurethane and 68% polyester, which allows the material to be used in the production of wardrobe items and the furniture industry. The fabric is easy to clean from chemical contaminants (varnish, paint, cosmetics, fats and sweet drinks).
Please note! For steering wheels and seat upholstery in high-speed cars, Alcantara is preferred because it does not slip on bends.
Eco-leather is susceptible to temperature influences - it heats up and cools down easily with corresponding changes, while Alcantara covers have good temperature regulation.
Ultramicrofiber is wear-resistant, withstands mechanical impacts, sun rays and retains color brightness throughout its entire service life.
If the budget allows, the consumer's preference often lies with Alcantara.
Possible colors
Alcantara is combined with other colors to highlight individual relief inserts in car seats. The fabric has more than 50 shades, so combining it with genuine leather, metal or wood is easy. Alcantara car covers come in two types: model and universal.
Alcantara covers for Volkswagen Passat will differ significantly from those made for Toyota, Kia or Honda. The sizes of seats and headrests have different designs, and for the perfect fit of the cover on the car seat, its tight fit is important. This factor is important not only in terms of aesthetics, but also for convenience during fast driving, sudden stops, and sharp turns.
Important! When seat covers move or do not fit tightly to the seats, this causes a lot of inconvenience to the driver and passengers.
How much material is needed for inserts in car covers
Seat measurements can be taken using a flexible tape with graduated divisions (commonly known as a "centimeter") or by placing a piece of paper on the desired area and cutting out the corresponding pattern. When transferring the pattern to the fabric, you need to add 1-2 cm for seams around the entire perimeter.
The cut out individual elements are folded in one plane taking into account the direction of the weft in the fabric and an approximate consumption of fabric for sewing the parts is obtained. Having laid out a collage of patterns, you can measure the entire area along the perimeter. The length and width of the collage will indicate the actual size of the fabric needed to sew the inserts for the covers.
Please note! Alcantara rhombus car covers are used for the design of seats without protruding side reliefs in the back.
Model Alcantara covers are produced for Lada Priora, Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Ceed, Volkswagen Passat and other popular models. In addition, you can order custom tailoring if there are no suitable car covers.
Alcantara car seat covers can be sewn independently, if you have the necessary skills and appropriate sewing equipment.
Rules for caring for such covers
For each type of contamination there are appropriate cleaning methods.
- From spilled liquid. Coffee and juice are removed with a clean wet cloth, after blotting the area dry. It is not recommended to use detergents with bleaches.
- Dry stains. Traces of dried fruit, chocolate and felt-tip pen can be removed with a soft sponge with a soap or water-alcohol solution. After soaking the stain for a while, simply wash the surface of the seat. Monitor cleaning wet wipes are also suitable.
- Chewing gum is easy to remove after freezing. Just apply an ice pack to make it brittle and fall off.
- Scuffs on the cover. The shiny areas are treated with special care products for leather and leather substitutes, and the surface of the shiny area is wiped with a soft cloth.
- Universal car seat covers are usually combined in two color schemes. Dirt is especially noticeable at color transitions. A chemical soft cleaning agent will solve the problem.
- Permanently dirty areas can be treated with a water- and dirt-repellent spray, which will reduce the frequency of cleaning several times. It is important to pay attention to the recommendations for the use of the product in relation to polyurethane.
- Drying the covers after wet cleaning. It is not recommended to use a hair dryer, iron or heating devices. Drying naturally with ventilation will be the best way to preserve the appearance.
- Machine washing is prohibited.
Proper care and timely cleaning from dirt extend the service life of car seat covers.
Thus, Alcantara is a great material for sewing covers. You can buy them ready-made or sew them yourself. In the second case, the main thing is to make the patterns correctly and stitch everything neatly.
