The increasing volume of furniture and textile waste poses a significant environmental
challenge that is driving the development of sustainable approaches in the furniture industry.
Due to its complex composition of various materials, upholstered furniture is difficult to recycle;
therefore, strategies to extend product lifespans, reuse materials, and develop circular
business models are becoming crucial. This thesis addresses the development and design of
woven fabrics for the sustainable restoration of upholstered furniture. In the research section,
three different fabrics with the same construction - a two-shaft jacquard pattern with a twill
reverse side that is sufficiently compact for use in upholstered furniture - were analysed,
differing only in the type of multifilament yarn added. Fabrics were produced without added
multifilament yarn, with added PBT multifilament yarn, and with added PA66 multifilament
yarn. All the fabrics featured a zebra-like pattern. The key physical and mechanical properties
of the fabrics were measures according to standards: thickness, mass, abrasion resistance,
elasticity, tensile strength, air permeability, thermal conductivity, and UV resistance. Based on
the results obtained, the fabric most suitable for use as upholstery for upholstered furniture
was selected: the fabric with added PA66 multifilament yarn. This fabric was used to
reupholster an old armchair, which was thereby upcycled. The project combines the fields of
textile engineering, sustainable design, and interior. The research results contribute to an
understanding of how the fabric’s structure and the type of yarn influence its final properties
for end use.
|