The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

The Art of Faking Real Leather

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Speaking of leather hides, Plastics Today recently published an insightful article about synthetic leather, and the level of research and development that goes into manufacturing fabrics that look and feel like the real thing. Give the article a quick read - you'll be surprised to learn about the level of detail researchers put into getting imitation leather just right, as well … [Read more...]

The History of the Convertible Cars

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It's only May and many upholstery shops are already knee-deep in convertible tops. Before you find yourself drowning in a pile of worn canvas and rotted tacking strips, why not brush up on the history of the product you'll spend most of the summer stripping and installing? In 2001, Autos.ca published a great article titled "Motoring Memories: The History of the Convertible." … [Read more...]

How the Sun Can Ruin Car Upholstery

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Well, it's summer and you know what that means – headliners will fall, leather will crack and upholstery will fade. And, invariably, customers will ask, " Why?" Auto upholsterers, of course, already know the answer to that question. It's the sun. Explaining that to customers, however, can prove quite difficult. Thankfully, The Financial Express does a great job of explaining … [Read more...]

How Americans Came to Have Cup Holders

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In 2004, Slate published an article titled "Drink Me: How Americans Came to Have Cup Holders in Their Cars." Though the article is seven years old, it still makes a great read - especially if you geek out on the history of cars as much as I do. But even if you don't, it's chock full of interesting tidbits that you can use to impress customers. For instance, did you know that … [Read more...]