Bespoke sofa upholstery, as we know it today, is the culmination of many centuries of dedication to the craft of sewing, stuffing, stitching and finishing home furniture.
Whilst the origins of furniture upholstery can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, what we would now call sofa upholstery developed much later in the course of European history with contributions from each of the major centres of influence - Italy, France, Germany and the UK.
Before the birth of upholstery, home furniture was considered purely in the functional sense with little consideration for human comfort, form or the interior aesthetic.
However, as the Renaissance transformed the world of arts and culture, craftsmanship and tailoring became a new way for the citizens of fast growing towns and cities to portray their status and wealth.
As the way society perceived clothing and furniture changed, wealthy individuals began to pay far closer attention to both what they wore and the design of their interior space, giving rise to the concept of a bespoke purchase.
The term bespoke, which originated from the English term bespeak during the 15-16 century, described the process by which formal attire was ordered.
At that time, tailors and upholsterers would describe cloth as being "spoken for" by an individual customer whose garment would then be handcrafted in accordance to their exact specifications and personal taste.
From Paris in the 17h Century to London in the 19th Century, where suit tailoring led sofa upholstery was soon to follow.
The basic tenets of bespoke sofa design - frame, springs, padding, top-cover and finishes were developed and slowly formalised during this period.
However, it wasn't until the age of Victorian opulence that artistic influences and an emphasis on comfort began to shape the design process.
As demand for innovative curved designs increased, bespoke upholsterers developed advanced stitching techniques allowing stuffing to closely follow the curvature of the sofa frame.
As higher quality steel springs became more available, upholsterers were able to make sofas more comfortable than ever before.
Following the industrial revolution, sofas became a staple household item - produced on an industrial scale and distributed to the mass-market.
In this new environment, choices of design, style, fabric and finish became standardised around a smaller group of commercially viable models.
Whilst this has had the effect of making sofas much more affordable to the general public it has also restricted the level of choice available for those who wish to purchase sofas which can be customised in terms of size, design, fabric or finish.
Consequently, many discerning consumers, dissatisfied with mass-produced alternatives, are now opting for sofas where each part of the upholstery process can be spoken for in exactly the same fashion as it was in the past.
To satisfy this new demand, bespoke upholsterers are drawing on traditional techniques but also adapting modern technology to design and produce exceptional original designs.
As a result, bespoke sofas are becoming increasingly popular in a world where ready-made sofas have long dominated the marketplace.
Whilst the origins of furniture upholstery can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, what we would now call sofa upholstery developed much later in the course of European history with contributions from each of the major centres of influence - Italy, France, Germany and the UK.
Before the birth of upholstery, home furniture was considered purely in the functional sense with little consideration for human comfort, form or the interior aesthetic.
However, as the Renaissance transformed the world of arts and culture, craftsmanship and tailoring became a new way for the citizens of fast growing towns and cities to portray their status and wealth.
As the way society perceived clothing and furniture changed, wealthy individuals began to pay far closer attention to both what they wore and the design of their interior space, giving rise to the concept of a bespoke purchase.
The term bespoke, which originated from the English term bespeak during the 15-16 century, described the process by which formal attire was ordered.
At that time, tailors and upholsterers would describe cloth as being "spoken for" by an individual customer whose garment would then be handcrafted in accordance to their exact specifications and personal taste.
From Paris in the 17h Century to London in the 19th Century, where suit tailoring led sofa upholstery was soon to follow.
The basic tenets of bespoke sofa design - frame, springs, padding, top-cover and finishes were developed and slowly formalised during this period.
However, it wasn't until the age of Victorian opulence that artistic influences and an emphasis on comfort began to shape the design process.
As demand for innovative curved designs increased, bespoke upholsterers developed advanced stitching techniques allowing stuffing to closely follow the curvature of the sofa frame.
As higher quality steel springs became more available, upholsterers were able to make sofas more comfortable than ever before.
Following the industrial revolution, sofas became a staple household item - produced on an industrial scale and distributed to the mass-market.
In this new environment, choices of design, style, fabric and finish became standardised around a smaller group of commercially viable models.
Whilst this has had the effect of making sofas much more affordable to the general public it has also restricted the level of choice available for those who wish to purchase sofas which can be customised in terms of size, design, fabric or finish.
Consequently, many discerning consumers, dissatisfied with mass-produced alternatives, are now opting for sofas where each part of the upholstery process can be spoken for in exactly the same fashion as it was in the past.
To satisfy this new demand, bespoke upholsterers are drawing on traditional techniques but also adapting modern technology to design and produce exceptional original designs.
As a result, bespoke sofas are becoming increasingly popular in a world where ready-made sofas have long dominated the marketplace.