--- title: "Frequently asked questions about bed fabrics - Les Ateliers Le Briand" url: https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/bed-fabrics/ description: "Questions about the ticking fabrics that cover our wool mattresses, decorative mattresses, baby mattresses, box springs and pillows?" lang: en-US updated: 2026-10-11 translations: fr: https://le-briand.fr/questions-frequentes/coutil/ source: https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/bed-fabrics.md --- # Frequently asked questions about bed fabrics Questions about ticking? Here are some answers. Have a question about the ticking fabrics that cover our [wool mattresses](https://le-briand.fr/en/wool-mattress/), [decorative mattresses](https://le-briand.fr/en/bench-mattress/), [baby mattresses](https://le-briand.fr/en/baby-mattress/), [box springs](https://le-briand.fr/en/box-spring/), or [pillows](https://le-briand.fr/en/pillow/)? Find the answers below: [Ticking](https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/bed-fabrics/#ticking) | [Upholstery fabric](https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/bed-fabrics/#upholstery-fabric) ## Frequently asked questions about ticking for our mattresses and bed bases ### What is ticking? It is the technical term for the visible part of a mattress. It is the surface material that covers the filling of your bedding. Quite simply, ticking is the fabric cover or mattress or bed-base cloth. We adapt our terminology to each customer. These craft-specific terms should not get in the way of understanding what you need. We use vocabulary that helps us stay on the same wavelength. For purists, let us call it **ticking**. For those less concerned with precise vocabulary, let us call it **the cloth, fabric, or cover of the mattress, bed base or cushion**. ### Where is your ticking woven? Striped ticking and plain ticking (the bisonne) are woven in the Vosges region of north-eastern France, in one of the last weaving mills in France, which holds the [Vosges Terre Textile](https://www.vosgesterretextile.fr/) label. The yarn for the 100% cotton striped ticking is spun from African cotton; the yarn for the bisonne, from African cotton, Spanish cotton and French linen. These yarns come partly from an African spinning mill and partly from a Spanish one. Damask ticking (with a floral pattern) from the standard collection is woven in Lombardy, northern Italy, in the Milan area; from the special collection, in Spain. We hold the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificates of our weavers in the Vosges and in Lombardy. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Upholstery Fabric ### Do you offer a collection of upholstery fabrics? Our primary specialty is making bedding. That is why we do not keep an upholstery fabric collection in the way an upholsterer would. We supply classic ticking fabrics. Over time, however, our work on decorative mattresses has given us extensive experience with a wide range of upholstery fabrics. We do not supply upholstery fabric. We can, however, help you purchase a suitable fabric. We can advise you on: – the quantity needed for your project – the minimum fabric width from selvage to selvage – the required yardage – the type of weave – the fabric’s fiber content We know how to assess whether a fabric will meet your needs, including whether it can withstand the mechanical stresses of mattress making and remain durable over time. We also know how to work with these fabrics. ### What is the difference between bedding ticking and upholstery fabric? For a project that follows standard specifications, every parameter is known. There should be no surprises because we are working with a familiar fabric. Using upholstery fabric introduces unknown variables into the making process. We must spend additional time before, during, and after production to bring those variables under control. More specifically, working with an unfamiliar fabric requires us to: – check the fabric’s strength – perform tests – monitor the work step by step These steps allow us to achieve the requested dimensions and comfort. We must also: – match the pattern, if the fabric has one – make buttons to replace the original ones – match the tufting cords to the fabric color ### Where can I buy upholstery fabric? Here are two suppliers near our workshops: – Upholstery fabric outlet: [Citeaux Mural](https://www.citeauxmural.fr/) – 225 Faubourg Saint-Antoine – Wholesale upholstery supplier: [Leobert](https://leobert.fr/) – 223 Faubourg Saint-Antoine We will need to visit the second supplier together because [Leobert](https://leobert.fr/) serves trade professionals only. It offers a wider selection than Saint-Pierre Market. ### Can any upholstery fabric be used to make a mattress? No. Not every designer upholstery fabric is suitable for the type of mattress we make. That is why this type of project requires particular care when selecting the fabric, before production begins. This type of fabric is relatively expensive. It is best to confirm that it is suitable before buying several yards. To avoid that risk, we recommend sending us a small sample, known in the trade as a swatch, so that we can test the strength of the fabric you are considering. Specialist mills weave the fabric used for [wool mattresses](https://le-briand.fr/en/wool-mattress/) and [sprung box springs](https://le-briand.fr/en/box-spring/). This ticking costs more because it must be strong enough to hold the tufts in place and withstand the stresses of production. With the rise of synthetic mattresses, especially foam mattresses, the cover no longer needs to be as strong and can be much less expensive. ### Other topics covered by frequently asked questions [Wool Mattress](https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/wool-mattress/) | [Wool](https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/wool/) | [Box Spring](https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/box-spring/) | [Orders](https://le-briand.fr/en/faq/ordering/) **For any question about ticking and upholstery fabric**, the simplest thing is to: [Contact us](https://le-briand.fr/en/contact/) [Visit us](https://le-briand.fr/en/address/) …and we will be delighted to guide you toward the bedding that will help you sleep ever more comfortably.