Upholstery Fabric Backing Types for Buyers
Upholstery backing should be written as a specification field, not guessed from the face photo. QC should say whether the reverse is open, fleece-backed, or PE-coated before anyone asks for a quote. Then open Haida's base fabric guide for the material questions, and send the backing line through Request With WhatsApp.
What do fleece back and PE coat change on a sofa cloth?
The face is what the customer sees. The back is what the sewing foot, foam, and zipper meet. An unbacked or open reverse can feel closer to the knit structure. It can also show needle holes and can walk on a long seam if the stitch is too loose. A fleece back adds a fibrous layer on the reverse. Factories often ask for it when they want more body or a softer reverse against foam. A PE coat is a film-like layer some sofa programs use when they want a different stain or moisture behavior on the reverse. Those sentences are education. They are not ratings, not GSM values, and not a promise that every Haida cloth uses one back.
If a previous order used a named coat, attach that hanger and ask the mill to match the reverse. If the tech pack only says waterproof on the face, do not translate that into a PE coat. Face finish and reverse coat are different lines.
Pile families raise the same question more often because the face hides the reverse. A velvet seat can look identical on two hangers while one reverse is open and the other is coated. Ask for a photo of the back, or cut a small corner on the hanger, before the cutting room books a marker. Use the velvet upholstery collection when the face family is velvet, then still write the back as its own field.
| Backing type | What QC usually checks | What to write on the RFQ |
|---|---|---|
| Unbacked or open reverse | Seam walk, see-through, needle hole | No back, or open knit reverse |
| Fleece back | Body, reverse hand, foam contact | Fleece back; do not invent fleece GSM |
| PE coat | Needle punch, stain talk, handle change | PE coat if already specified; else ask |
| Unknown reverse | Risk of sampling the wrong back | Write unknown and request a back photo |
How should QC write backing on the first RFQ?
Write three lines before any price request: application, face family, and reverse. Application tells the mill whether the cloth is a seat, a tight back, or a cushion. Face family tells the mill whether they are in velvet, corduroy, or another route. Reverse tells the mill whether to pull an unbacked hanger or a coated hanger. If any line is unknown, write unknown. A guessed coat creates a second sample that fails incoming inspection.
Incoming inspection should look at both sides under the same light. Record lot, face shade, and reverse type on one card. If the purchase order only names the face, QC has no basis to reject a different back. Add a sentence to the RFQ that the sample must show the reverse. That sentence is free and it prevents a quiet substitution.
Read width, composition, and other base questions on base fabric material guide.
When is an unbacked cloth enough?
Unbacked cloth can be enough when the cover is a decorative cushion, a low-stress back, or a program that already sews that reverse without seam walk. It is a poor first pick when the seat front sees daily body weight and the factory has no approved stitch for an open knit reverse. Those are application notes, not durability scores.
Fleece back is a common request when the factory wants more body without changing the face yarn. PE coat is a common request when the buying team already writes coat on other sofa qualities. Neither request should carry an invented number. If the destination market needs a named stain or moisture test, write the test as a request and request the relevant documents. Do not translate a coat name into a certificate.
What does Request With WhatsApp need from QC?
Send your requirements through Request With WhatsApp. Confirm four items before you send: sofa application, face family, backing type or unknown, and sample quantity. Ask for a hanger that shows the reverse. Add GSM only when the tech pack already states it. If GSM is unknown, leave it blank rather than inventing a backing weight.
Expect a scoping reply, not a lab report. If the QC file needs a number before sampling, ask for a SKU-specific number on the same WhatsApp thread and treat the answer as quotation-scoped until it is written on a quote.
Send the packet through Request With WhatsApp when application, reverse type, and sample quantity are filled or honestly marked unknown.
