COM / COL Fabric Program | Custom Hospitality Seating Manufacturer

Richardson Seating’s COM/COL program helps interior designers, architects, hospitality specifiers, purchasing firms, furniture dealers, and restaurant groups create custom commercial seating with a specified fabric or leather.

COM means Customer’s Own Material, and COL means Customer’s Own Leather. In our 75,000-square-foot Chicago manufacturing facility, our in-house upholstery shop applies customer-supplied contract textiles and leather to commercial chairs and bar stools for restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs, casinos, healthcare spaces, and other high-traffic interiors.

Who is the COM/COL program for?

We work directly with design professionals and commercial project teams, including interior designers, architects, hospitality specifiers, purchasing firms, furniture dealers, restaurant groups, and commercial operators. Our team can assist with product selection, upholstery details, estimated material requirements, pricing, and production planning.

What materials can designers specify?

Richardson Seating works with contract-grade fabrics, performance textiles, vinyls, and genuine leather from major suppliers, including Maharam, Momentum, Architex, and Ultrafabrics. Before ordering material, send us the manufacturer, pattern name, color, width, repeat, backing, and any special application instructions so we can review the specification for your selected chair or bar stool.

COM and COL pricing

  • COM fabric: Most COM projects are priced using our standard Grade 3 vinyl pricing matrix, plus the cost of the customer-supplied material.
  • COL leather: Leather projects are individually quoted because hide size, usable yield, natural markings, pattern requirements, and cutting needs vary.
  • Trade and project pricing: Qualified design professionals, dealers, and commercial accounts may request project pricing. Contact Richardson Seating with the product, quantity, material, and project details.

Yardage, repeats, and pattern direction

Yardage shown on individual product pages is based on 54-inch-wide, non-directional material. Additional material may be required for large repeats, plaids, stripes, geometric patterns, directional textiles, pattern matching, welting, tufting, or other custom upholstery details.

  • Provide the fabric width and horizontal and vertical repeat.
  • Tell us whether the material should be railroaded or applied up the roll.
  • Identify the face direction and placement of any prominent motif.
  • Do not ship material until the order and estimated yardage have been confirmed.

Commercial performance and fire-code requirements

Incoming COM/COL material must be suitable for the intended commercial environment and comply with applicable project requirements. Unless the project specifies otherwise, materials must meet CAL TB 117-2013 requirements. Tell us about any project-specific testing, moisture-barrier, cleaning, healthcare, casino, or heavy-use requirements before ordering material. The architect, designer, or purchaser remains responsible for confirming that the selected material meets the codes and performance requirements for the installation.

How the COM/COL process works

  1. Select the seating: Identify the Richardson Seating chair or bar stool, quantity, finish, and upholstery details.
  2. Send the specification: Share the textile or leather manufacturer, pattern, color, width, repeat, and application instructions.
  3. Confirm pricing and material: We will review the project information and provide a quote or request additional details.
  4. Ship the approved material: Mark every shipment with your company name and Richardson Seating order or project number.
  5. Production: Our Chicago team cuts, sews, upholsters, and prepares the commercial seating for shipment.

COM/COL shipping instructions

Ship approved materials prepaid to:

Richardson Seating Corporation
Attn: COM Department / [Your Order or Project Number]
2545 W. Arthington St.
Chicago, IL 60612

Please ask the fabric or leather supplier to include your company name, purchase order number, and Richardson Seating order or project number on the packing slip and every package. Unidentified material can delay production.

Frequently asked COM/COL questions

Can Richardson Seating help estimate COM yardage?

Yes. Send us the seating model, quantity, fabric width, repeat, pattern direction, and desired upholstery details. We can review the specification and provide an estimate before material is shipped.

Can you match patterns or use directional fabric?

Yes, depending on the seating design and material. Pattern matching, stripes, plaids, large repeats, and directional fabrics generally require additional yardage and clear placement instructions.

Can designers specify leather?

Yes. We accept Customer’s Own Leather for suitable upholstered seating. COL projects are custom-quoted because usable hide yield and cutting requirements vary.

Do you work with design firms and furniture dealers?

Yes. We support interior designers, architects, hospitality specifiers, purchasing firms, furniture dealers, and commercial accounts with product selection, custom upholstery, project pricing, and quotations.

Where is the seating upholstered?

COM and COL seating is upholstered in Richardson Seating’s Chicago manufacturing facility.

Ready to specify a material? Contact our team with your seating model, quantity, textile or leather specification, and project timeline. You can also review our Commercial Seating FAQ for information about trade pricing, samples, lead times, customization, and shipping.