Calico

Calico is a plain-woven, unbleached cotton cloth that plays a critical role in upholstery construction. Applied over the padding and before the final fabric, it acts as a holding layer that locks stuffing in place, smooths out any irregularities, and creates a clean, even surface for the top cover to sit on. Without calico, the finished piece is more likely to show lumps, shift its filling, and wear unevenly over time.

In traditional upholstery, calico is stretched tightly over the shaped stuffing and tacked or stapled to the frame. This stage is where the upholsterer finalises the shape of the piece, adjusting tension and fullness before the top fabric goes on. It is effectively a dress rehearsal for the final cover, and many upholsterers consider the calico stage the most important part of the build.

We supply calico in a range of widths and weights suited to different applications. Lighter weights work well for backs and arms where less tension is needed, while heavier-weight calico is used for seats and areas under greater stress. All our calico is sourced from established textile mills and meets the demands of professional workshop use.