So I stumbled on this information and figured it would be useful to anyone on here looking to do interior projects in the next little while. It really helps you define what material you will actually need for the job, and could save a lot of money as well.
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Microsuede:
This is a thin suede but has a lot of stretch to it. The best place to use this type of suede would be to wrap something with a lot of curves, such as a headliner or pillars. This would be not a great suede to use on things such as the door panel armrests. This is not a very durable material.
Price: This type of suede can usually be found for only a few dollars a yard.
Ultrasuede:
Ultrasuede is the next step up in suedes. Ultrasuede is made by the same company that makes Alcantara. This is a much more durable material then microsuede. They sell ultrasuede in two thicknesses. Ultrasuede light and ultrasuede. Ultrasuede also has a fake leather line.
Ultrausede light:
This material would be good for wrapping things such as armrests. It has decent durablity and has more strech to it then regular ultrasuede.
Price: About $30 a yard.
Ultrasuede:
Ultrasuede is a thicker material that would be good for wrapping things without a lot of curves. Ultrasuede also only stretches good in one direction. Ultrasuede is also an affordable material that is good for shift boots.
Price: About $40 a yard.
Alcantara:
Alcantara is basically the king of suedes. It has the best durability of all these materials. It is also the most expensive. To my knowledge there is only one official Automotive Alcantara supplier in the US. Automotive Alcantara has two types. One has a backing that is made for seats and the other does not which is used for wrapping panels.
Alcantara with no backing:
This Alcantara can be used for wrapping things that do not have a lot of curves. It has the least amount of stretch of any of the suedes listed. I believe that both the Alcantara without backing and the one with backing have the same top. This is an extremely durable material. It is best for items like shift boots and shift knob wraps.
Alcantara with backing:
This Alcantara is basically only for recovering seats or making shift boots. It has no stretch. You could use it for covering pieces but the other Alcantara is the same durability.
Price: Both Alcantara’s are about $90 a yard.
Warnings:
Some company’s seem to mislabel their suede and there is no universal standard. The best advice I can give is to always get a swatch of material before ordering or better yet buy it at a store. The only material I have actually found in a fabric shop is microsuede. I have also found materials labeled as microsuede in stores that have no stretch.
There are a ton of faux suedes out there. Make sure the material you are buying is what you want. This is what getting a swatch ensures.
Most materials are not exact. This usually isn’t a problem but some suedes stop a half inch from the end of the fabric. If you need something that is exactly that wide make sure to measure the fabric. Lengthwise the cuts are usually made by someone with scissors and cutting across a guide. These cuts are not perfect. If you are cutting the amount you need close, get an extra half yard.
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hope this helps some people out. It shed a lot of light on my findings.
