Is there any other Comfortweave supplier out there besides SMS fabrics?

tpj71mach · Dec 13, 2024

Hi All,
I was just wondering if anyone is aware of another supplier who has real Comfortweave material in black other than SMS. I need to purchase 2 yards of it if I can find a supplier or if anyone has some they don't need. I am ordering my seat upholstery and TMI said they are willing to sew in the real Comfortweave in place of the molded vinyl they have if I can supply it to them. I am not sure it will look all that different or if it would feel any different but would like to put the real stuff in, if possible, without dealing with SMS if I can avoid it.

Sheriff41 · Dec 13, 2024

SMS is the best if you have time to wait -- they're not the quickest. I've heard from others if you visit SMS in person you can get slightly quicker service.

I ordered the TMI produced upholstery with the fake comfort weave and it's nice, but you can see and feel the difference. Real comfort weave is more pliable. That said, I'm happy with what I have from TMI.

tpj71mach · Dec 13, 2024

Sheriff41 said:
SMS is the best if you have time to wait -- they're not the quickest. I've heard from others if you visit SMS in person you can get slightly quicker service.

I ordered the TMI produced upholstery with the fake comfort weave and it's nice, but you can see and feel the difference. Real comfort weave is more pliable. That said, I'm happy with what I have from TMI.

That's good to hear, as I most likely will go with the fake Comfortweave that TMI normally sews in. It can't be any more uncomfortable than any other solid vinyl seat cover would be. My Chevelle is a factory big block 4 speed with a factory bench seat that is solid vinyl, and I don't mind driving that, it's not awesome, but I think it is comfortable enough. If I can find some of the real stuff before I order the interior, I will go with that but if not no big deal. Or if I can find it down the road, I can have it sewn in later if I don't like it.

Sheriff41 · Dec 14, 2024

tpj71mach said:
That's good to hear, as I most likely will go with the fake Comfortweave that TMI normally sews in. It can't be any more uncomfortable than any other solid vinyl seat cover would be. My Chevelle is a factory big block 4 speed with a factory bench seat that is solid vinyl, and I don't mind driving that, it's not awesome, but I think it is comfortable enough. If I can find some of the real stuff before I order the interior, I will go with that but if not no big deal. Or if I can find it down the road, I can have it sewn in later if I don't like it.

I'd recommend springing for the better seat foam NPD sells.

tpj71mach · Dec 14, 2024

Sheriff41 said:
I'd recommend springing for the better seat foam NPD sells.

Do you mean the American Cushion Industries foam or the TMI foam? NPD has an economy foam with no brand (good?) listed for $205 and then the TMI foam (better?) for $230 and then the American Cushion industries foam (best?) for $253. I was planning on buying the TMI foam directly from TMI when I bought my seat covers. Do you think I should get the ACI foam from NPD instead? I am thinking that based on price it might be a good, better, best thing. I was initially intending to get the ACI foam (best?) but then I thought that the TMI foam (better?) might fit the TMI seat covers better?
I also like the Sport II seat covers with the larger side bolsters, so that would make the decision on the foam. I will need to get the TMI sport II foams if I go with those seat covers.
It's no secret that decisions are not my greatest strength, I tend to over think and re-hash over and over.
I do like the larger side bolsters on the sport II seat and the pattern is similar enough to the stock seat covers that it looks almost stock only a little more modern to me.
And there still is the real Comfortweave or just the molded stuff TMI has, decision to make. For the first time in any of my car's restorations, cost isn't a concern per se. I just bought my wife a ridiculously overpriced treadmill for Christmas she has wanted for a long time, (I swear she said that's what she wanted as her present) so I will not need to deal with any internal guilt of spending too much on my toys right now, haha.
I just want to get something that is comfortable and that I am going to enjoy for a long time as I do not plan to let this car go. Either seat design I choose, I would still like to add the real Comfortweave if I can locate the material. TBH, after speaking with the lady at SMS, I would rather pay more for the material somewhere else if I can find it or even go without it. I didn't get a good vibe about the company from her attitude and would rather deal with someone else if there is someone else out there. As you can see from the picture that I attached to my earlier post, either way I go, my Mustang seats will be way more comfortable than the flat solid vinyl bench seat in one of my other cars, haha.

Sheriff41 · Dec 14, 2024

tpj71mach said:
Do you mean the American Cushion Industries foam or the TMI foam? NPD has an economy foam with no brand (good?) listed for $205 and then the TMI foam (better?) for $230 and then the American Cushion industries foam (best?) for $253. I was planning on buying the TMI foam directly from TMI when I bought my seat covers. Do you think I should get the ACI foam from NPD instead? I am thinking that based on price it might be a good, better, best thing. I was initially intending to get the ACI foam (best?) but then I thought that the TMI foam (better?) might fit the TMI seat covers better?
I also like the Sport II seat covers with the larger side bolsters, so that would make the decision on the foam. I will need to get the TMI sport II foams if I go with those seat covers.
It's no secret that decisions are not my greatest strength, I tend to over think and re-hash over and over.
I do like the larger side bolsters on the sport II seat and the pattern is similar enough to the stock seat covers that it looks almost stock only a little more modern to me.
And there still is the real Comfortweave or just the molded stuff TMI has, decision to make. For the first time in any of my car's restorations, cost isn't a concern per se. I just bought my wife a ridiculously overpriced treadmill for Christmas she has wanted for a long time, (I swear she said that's what she wanted as her present) so I will not need to deal with any internal guilt of spending too much on my toys right now, haha.
I just want to get something that is comfortable and that I am going to enjoy for a long time as I do not plan to let this car go. Either seat design I choose, I would still like to add the real Comfortweave if I can locate the material. TBH, after speaking with the lady at SMS, I would rather pay more for the material somewhere else if I can find it or even go without it. I didn't get a good vibe about the company from her attitude and would rather deal with someone else if there is someone else out there. As you can see from the picture that I attached to my earlier post, either way I go, my Mustang seats will be way more comfortable than the flat solid vinyl bench seat in one of my other cars, haha.

I think if we can get @Rick@NPD to answer this, we'll get a definitive answer. I used the ACI foam and it's a step up from the seat foams I used back when I was restored several Mustangs.

Sheriff41 · Dec 14, 2024

Here's a thread with some more detail: https://7173mustangs.com/threads/mustang-markets-foam-carpet-and-door-panels.42913/#post-430071

MikeGriese · Dec 14, 2024

Beware false economies. You won't touch anything on your car more than the seats. Economizing here could put the bloom off the rose if your seats wind up less comfortable than you would like. Kinda like brakes and tires - never go cheap on the things that could save your life.

RC92234 · Dec 14, 2024

For your consideration... I have a front and rear set of Deluxe upholstery (not the Sport/Mach 1 version; look at convertibles or Grandes) with real Comfortweavefrom SMS in black done by TMI. It was a good thing I ordered extra because they put the weave portions in wrong; the grain should run from side to side and they put it in top to bottom.

Fortunately, I had ordered enough for them to remake the set correctly and that's the set I'm keeping. If you're interested, let me know.

Pics and the comparison here:
https://7173mustangs.com/threads/new-seat-covers-with-comfortweave-have-arrived.41820/.

tpj71mach · Dec 14, 2024

Sheriff41 said:
I think if we can get @Rick@NPD to answer this, we'll get a definitive answer. I used the ACI foam and it's a step up from the seat foams I used back when I was restored several Mustangs.

Gotcha so the ACI foam is the best of them it seems. thanks

MikeGriese said:
Beware false economies. You won't touch anything on your car more than the seats. Economizing here could put the bloom off the rose if your seats wind up less comfortable than you would like. Kinda like brakes and tires - never go cheap on the things that could save your life.

I agree 100% I want to get the best material and foam I can so that they are as comfortable and durable as they can be. Cost is not a factor at all on this, the concern is that I want to determine which are the best quality foam and from there which foam will fit the TMI seat covers the best.

tpj71mach · Monday at 7:04 AM

RC92234 said:
For your consideration... I have a front and rear set of Deluxe upholstery (not the Sport/Mach 1 version; look at convertibles or Grandes) with real Comfortweavefrom SMS in black done by TMI. It was a good thing I ordered extra because they put the weave portions in wrong; the grain should run from side to side and they put it in top to bottom.

Fortunately, I had ordered enough for them to remake the set correctly and that's the set I'm keeping. If you're interested, let me know.

Pics and the comparison here:
https://7173mustangs.com/threads/new-seat-covers-with-comfortweave-have-arrived.41820/.

Thanks, too bad it isn't the Mach 1 pattern, or I would buy them from you. I am glad you were able to get them remade correctly.

Rick@NPD · Monday at 12:02 PM

tpj71mach said:
Hi All,
I was just wondering if anyone is aware of another supplier who has real Comfortweave material in black other than SMS. I need to purchase 2 yards of it if I can find a supplier or if anyone has some they don't need. I am ordering my seat upholstery and TMI said they are willing to sew in the real Comfortweave in place of the molded vinyl they have if I can supply it to them. I am not sure it will look all that different or if it would feel any different but would like to put the real stuff in, if possible, without dealing with SMS if I can avoid it.

I'm late to the party...

1. I had thought that there was no alternative to SMS anymore, but I just did a bit of googling, and what I had "thought" might not be the case.... There's a place in Michigan called Original Auto Interiors https://originalauto.com/ . Now, I had heard that SMS had bought-out OAI. But it looks like their website is still active, and still has them in MI. Just be sure that they're not simply a "front" for SMS, drop-shipping from SMS. I also found a place in Oklahoma called Original Auto Fabric https://oemautofabric.com/ Again, make sure it's not just an SMS drop-shipper.

2. YES, the suggestion that you spend-up for the American Cushion Industries (ACI) foam is the BEST ADVICE you could ever hope to get. Your hind-end will thank you, and it'll last the rest of your life with the car. No other foam holds a candle next to ACI. You wouldn't think there'd be that big a difference, but there is. It's all in the chemistry/origin of the foam.

Rick
NPD

tpj71mach · Monday at 12:34 PM

Rick@NPD said:
I'm late to the party...

1. I had thought that there was no alternative to SMS anymore, but I just did a bit of googling, and what I had "thought" might not be the case.... There's a place in Michigan called Original Auto Interiors https://originalauto.com/ . Now, I had heard that SMS had bought-out OAI. But it looks like their website is still active, and still has them in MI. Just be sure that they're not simply a "front" for SMS, drop-shipping from SMS. I also found a place in Oklahoma called Original Auto Fabric https://oemautofabric.com/ Again, make sure it's not just an SMS drop-shipper.

2. YES, the suggestion that you spend-up for the American Cushion Industries (ACI) foam is the BEST ADVICE you could ever hope to get. Your hind-end will thank you, and it'll last the rest of your life with the car. No other foam holds a candle next to ACI. You wouldn't think there'd be that big a difference, but there is. It's all in the chemistry/origin of the foam.

Rick
NPD

Thank you for all of that information, I appreciate the guidance.

Bill Kanode · Tuesday at 8:54 PM

tpj71mach said:
Hi All,
I was just wondering if anyone is aware of another supplier who has real Comfortweave material in black other than SMS. I need to purchase 2 yards of it if I can find a supplier or if anyone has some they don't need. I am ordering my seat upholstery and TMI said they are willing to sew in the real Comfortweave in place of the molded vinyl they have if I can supply it to them. I am not sure it will look all that different or if it would feel any different but would like to put the real stuff in, if possible, without dealing with SMS if I can avoid it.

I ordered a plaid cloth from SMS and had it sent to TMI to make my seat covers for my 1971 Mustang Fastback so the covers would look original. When I received the seat covers from TMI they had sewed the cloth 90° from what the factory made. It looks like crap so I will have to file a warranty claim for a correction. The cloth cost me $345.00 and TMI charged $900.00 to sew in my cloth. We may get into a pissing match to see who will cover the mistake. Please make sure that TMI sews your material in the way it is supposed to be to prevent a similar problem.

ib4stangs · Wednesday at 6:46 AM

If TMI charged you $900 to swap out material "You" provided, that's outrageous! I have 2 yards of SMS, 73 Mach blue knitted vinyl needing sewn into a front set and was already worried about them screwing it up.

If anyone has a very good alternative upholsterer that can do this below, please let me know...

Is there any other Comfortweave supplier out there besides SMS fabrics?

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