Threads | Osaka

Osaka is a heavy textured weave from the Threads Quintessential Textures collection, a group of substantial upholstery-weight cloths in soft neutrals. Being pure cotton, the surface has a dense, slightly dry hand with a fine, even grain rather than a printed motif, so it reads as a quiet plain that still has real body to it. It is the kind of cloth that gives a sofa or a chair genuine presence without adding pattern or colour to a room.

The cloth is 100 per cent cotton, 130 centimetres wide, with no pattern repeat to plan around. It is rated at 50,000 rubs on the Martindale test, so it is rated for upholstery and will cope with daily use, and the page lists it for curtains and for loose and fixed upholstery. It comes in a single colourway, Ivory, a clean, warm white that works equally well against pale walls or as a foil to a stronger colour elsewhere in the room.

We tend to use Osaka on a main sofa or a pair of armchairs where a hard-wearing plain has to do the heavy lifting, on dining chairs, and as substantial curtains where the weight of the cloth helps the drape. It pairs well with a printed cushion from the Nala Prints collection or a striped weave on an occasional chair. 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, so ask your upholsterer to keep the grain running the same way on every panel and to cut all the pieces from one bolt to avoid shading. The cloth is substantial enough to need firm handling at the seams; have them pressed open on tight corners, and dry clean rather than wash.

• Composition: 100% cotton
• Width: 130 cm (51 in)
• Abrasion resistance: 50,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Curtains, loose and fixed upholstery, cushions
• Care: Do not wash; dry clean professionally, do not bleach and do not iron
• Collection: Quintessential Textures, Threads
• Colourways: 1 (Ivory)