Substrates Research

Before ordering my samples i have done some research into what substrates are currently being used on the market within children’s bedroom products. As i want my designs to be digitally printed by Fashion Formula i need to decide on a range of fabrics for my collection before finalising my designs. In order to determine the most appropriate substrates i will order a selection of sample fabrics to see how appropriate they are for my products.

M&S

The first retailer i have looked at is M&S as they are the brand i intend to produce my designs for. As my products will be for children i have decided to focus my research on this range. To make my research clear and concise so i can refer back to it later i have decided to present it as a list:

Bedding substrates- 100% Cotton, 80% Cotton 20% Polyester, 50% Cotton 50% Polyester, All 180 thread count where listed

Curtain substrates- 62% Cotton 38% Polyester lining 100% Polyester

Pyjamas- 50% cotton 25% viscose and 25% polyester Ribbing – 49% cotton 24% viscose 24% polyester and 3% elastane, 95% cotton 5% elastane Ribbing – 95% cotton 5% elastane, 100% cotton Ribbing – 95% cotton 5% elastane, 100% polyester.

Although my main collection will focus on the bedroom from previous research i have also considered introducing matching pj sets. As well as this bringing my collection into a new market this should also help to boost sales as well as allowing me to present this within my show space.

Laura Ashley

As one of my main competitors i have also decided to research into Laura Ashley’s range of products. From looking into more than one company i am hoping there to be some key consistencies; however, also some big differences in order to inspire a range of substrates for my collection.

Bedding substrates- 52% Polyester 48% Cotton, 100% Polyester, 50% Cotton 50% Polyester, 51% Polyester 49% Cotton

Curtain substrates- Viscose mix, 51% Cotton 49% Linen, 70% Cotton 30% Linen, 51% Linen 37% Cotton 12% Nylon

Bed throw/ fleece- 100% Polyester, 100% CottonFILLING 100% COTTON (225 GSM)

Lighting- Paper

Blinds- 51% Cotton 49% Linen, 40% Viscose 37% Cotton 11% Linen 10% Acrylic 2% nylon, 54% Linen 46% Cotton Woven Plain, 70% Cotton 30% Linen Printed Linen Cotton Fabric, 83% Viscose 17% Linen Woven Plain

Wallpaper- Paper, Non Woven Paper, Woven Paper

Overall Laura Ashley had a much greater range of products for myself to draw research from. Despite this i still need to gain further information into the types of substrates children’s lights can be made out of if i want to produce one for my collection and within my show space.

John Lewis

Bedding substrates- 100% Cotton, 52% Polyester 48% Cotton,

Curtains- 100% polyester woven, 100% cotton Lining- 50% cotton, 50% polyester, 100% Cotton, 100% cotton Lining 52% polyester 48% cotton

Blinds- 100% polyester

Bed throw/ fleece- 100% Polyester

Lighting- Polyester, Terylene cotton and Steel, Digitally printed fabric and Steel, Fabric and Steel.

Pyjamas- 100% cotton, 58% cotton 42% modal

Wallpaper- Despite looking for the substrate and material content this was not listed on their website.

Overall i am quite surprised at the lack of range of substrates supplied by John Lewis compared to their market competitors. Being such a large and well known brand i thought they may have had a much larger range of substrate combinations throughout their collections but this was not the case.

Looking into these three companies has given me a good insight into the substrates that are on the market and that could be used within my own collection. From here i hope to go on to order my array of fabric samples, utilising this information i have found.