COM & COL Explained: Using Your Own Fabric or Leather
COM and COL let a designer keep full control of the textile while the manufacturer handles construction. Here’s how it works in practice.
What COM and COL mean
COM is Customer’s Own Material; COL is Customer’s Own Leather. You supply the fabric or hide from your preferred mill, and we build the piece with it. It’s the standard way designers keep exact control of the textile spec — pattern, colorway, performance rating — while the workshop handles frames, foam, and upholstery.
How the process works
- Spec the material. Choose your fabric or leather; note the vendor, pattern, and width.
- We confirm yardage. On your shop drawings, we calculate the yardage (or hides) each piece needs — including pattern repeat and railroading — before you order a single roll.
- You route the goods. Ship the material to our Los Angeles workshop, or have your vendor drop-ship it.
- We build. Cut, sewn, and upholstered in-house on frames we build ourselves, so the whole piece is under one roof.
Why it matters for commercial projects
COM/COL keeps the textile budget and the performance spec (cleanability, TB 117-2013 compliance, wear rating) in your hands, with no showroom markup on the fabric. It also makes the piece reupholster-ready down the line. We accept COM and COL on every piece we build.
Bringing your own material?
Tell us the piece and the fabric — we’ll confirm yardage and build it.
Talk Through Your UpholsteryFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between COM and COL?
COM is Customer’s Own Material (fabric); COL is Customer’s Own Leather. In both, you supply the covering and the manufacturer builds with it.
How do I know how much fabric to order?
We confirm yardage on your shop drawings — accounting for pattern repeat and railroading — before you order, so you don’t over- or under-buy.
Do you accept COM/COL on every piece?
Yes. Customer’s Own Material and Customer’s Own Leather are welcome on any piece we build.