A seat cover is a piece of fabric that protects your car seats from dirt, dust, and spills. It helps maintain the resale value of your vehicle and keeps it looking nice. It is also easy to clean and can be washed in the washing machine. The cover is usually padded for comfort, and can be made of cloth, leather or other materials. Some covers are quilted and are designed to express your personal style. They are held in place by Velcro or zippers and may have pockets for storage.
The performance of seat cover fabrics has been influenced by factors such as fiber type and yarn structure, fabric construction, abrasion resistance and pilling propensity. The use of coatings to improve some of these properties is common in the textile industry. These can be applied either to improve the initial qualities of the fabric, or as a means of improving fabric handling and printing processes.
Another key factor in seat cover quality is the qualitative joining of cut parts by sewing. This requires high seam strength and material stability. In addition, the sewing process must not damage the material, or cause a significant displacement of fibres and threads from the seam area (Fig. 16.6). The use of special needles is often required to achieve this.
Many of these covers are available in a wide range of colors, and some have embroidery. Some are embroidered with a specific logo of your favorite auto manufacturer. One example is the Plasticolor Car Seat Cover Set with Steering Wheel Cover and Seat Belt Pad, which features officially licensed logos from all major auto manufacturers. This seat cover is made of breathable, high-quality fabric and comes with front bucket seats, rear bench cover and headrest cover.