Threads | Bambara

Bambara is a heavily textured weave from the Threads Luxury Weaves II collection, a group of subtle, tactile plains in a natural palette. The surface is built up from a mix of cotton, viscose, wool and linen yarns of different weights, so the grain is pronounced and slightly irregular, with a soft, almost woolly handle; it looks like a hand-woven cloth and gives a plain sofa or chair a great deal of presence without any colour or pattern.

The composition is 61 per cent cotton, 12 per cent viscose, 11 per cent nylon, 9 per cent acrylic, 5 per cent wool and 2 per cent linen on a 140 centimetre width, with no pattern repeat. The page lists it for curtains and for loose and fixed upholstery; no rub count is published, so for a heavily used sofa we would test a sample, while chairs, headboards and ottomans are straightforward. It comes in a single colourway, Ivory, a soft warm white that suits pale, tonal rooms.

We tend to use Bambara on an armchair or a pair of them, on a large ottoman where the texture can be enjoyed close up, and on a tall headboard in a bedroom with linen curtains. It pairs well with the Meridian Linen at the window and with a printed cushion from the Nala Prints or the Faraway collection for a note of pattern. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

With no repeat, quantities are simple, but the weave has a direction and a pronounced grain, so ask your upholsterer to keep it running the same way on every panel and to cut all pieces from one bolt. The cloth is substantial, so keep piping to a lighter cloth if the profile looks bulky; for curtains, line and interline so the weight hangs straight, and dry clean only.

• Composition: 61% cotton, 12% viscose, 11% nylon, 9% acrylic, 5% wool, 2% linen
• Width: 140 cm (55 in)
• Suitable for: Curtains, loose and fixed upholstery, cushions
• Care: Do not wash; dry clean professionally, do not bleach and do not iron
• Collection: Luxury Weaves II, Threads
• Colourways: 1 (Ivory)