We are not able to accept responsibility for wear and tear, accidental damage and neglect or misuse. To view our full Terms and Conditions, please visit our Terms and Conditions page.

We strive to produce products of the highest quality. If you believe there to be a fault or defect which is not covered in our Terms and Conditions please contact our Customer Care team on 01772 651199 or by emailing sales@smd-textiles.co.uk for further advice. 

Please do not return any goods without contacting us first.

Please browse our Made to Measure brochure for information on how to measure for curtains and roman blinds, alternatively click here to calculate how much fabric you require for curtains and here to calculate how much fabric you require for roman blinds.

A pattern match details how the pattern matches to the next piece of fabric. A pattern repeat is the measurement between the two points in a fabric where the same pattern is repeated. 

‘Half Drop’ repeat is where every other horizontal repeat (from side to side) is dropped down one half of its length, i.e. the design repeats itself on the diagonal rather than the horizontal.

‘Straight Match’ is where the pattern repeats across the roll and is positioned at the same place at each selvedge.

‘Random Match’ is where there is no pattern match.

The term ‘railroaded’ refers to the orientation of the fabric’s pattern as it is woven on the fabric roll.

Regular fabric: The design is orientated to run along the length of the fabric and is the correct way as it comes off the roll.

Railroaded fabric: The design is orientated to run along the length of the fabric (selvedge to selvedge) so that you must turn the roll 90 degrees to show the design running the correct way. The width of the fabric is then used for the drop. Fabrics are railroaded because they are too long to fit on a standard roll size (all wide width fabrics including voiles are railroaded), when you take railroaded fabric off the roll, it will be folded in half.

The minimum order is 50cm and in further increments of 10cm.

We strive to make sure the colours shown both online and in our brochures are as close as possible to the finished product, however it is not always possible to get an exact colour match. Deviations in colour can sometimes occur during the photography process or due to variances in computer screen display settings. Batches of fabric can vary slightly in colour from one production run to the next.  We endeavour to only supply orders of the same batch but these may vary slightly from the original sample.

We advise customers to see the product in person or order a sample (where possible) in order to ensure satisfaction with the product. We are happy to supply a cutting from a specific batch is a colour match to a sample is critical.

Contract is an industry used term to indicate fabrics that can be used in commercial environments, for example hospitality venues, cruise ships, work spaces, healthcare environments, educational facilities and so on. At ILIV, we have over 30 years experience in providing the ideal contract fabrics for all of the afore mentioned environments. We know that the perfect contract fabric has to perform brilliantly as well as look fantastic - our collections for contract are specifically designed with durability and high performance in mind as well as providing you with an incredible variety of qualities, colours, price-points and textures, all meeting relevant flammability standards.

Whether you are looking for a plain upholstery in that perfect shade or a statement print to make an entranceway spectacular; a wide-width voile or a flame retardant blackout fabric – we have it all.

Contract grade fabrics can also be incorporated into any residential design. See our separate Fire Retardancy and Fire Retardant Fabrics section for further information about fire retardancy requirements and specifications.

Our fabrics within our Contract section are fire resistant as standard and are also often stain or water repellent. This will be detailed in the product specifications. Specific details about fire retardancy are detailed in the dedicated fire retardancy FAQ section. Many of our none fire retardant 'residential' fabrics can often be treated for an additional cost. Please contact us on 01772 651199 or email sales@smd-textiles.co.uk for further advice. 

For each fabric we include a specification. If a fabric is suitable for upholstery it will be stated under the Upholstery Grade. Some of our fabrics are harder wearing than others and all are tested to a Martindale grade. The Martindale test is an abrasion test used to measure the durability of a fabric. The warp and weft threads are abraded to simulate wear and tear. 

The rub test score is internationally recognised and measures the durability of upholstery fabric for general domestic or contract use. Fabric is categorised by a numerical score to show how durable it is. The higher the score, the more durable the fabric is.

A score of 10,000 or less: Decorative use

A fabric with this score is suitable as a decorative fabric. Use for cushions or accents. Not suitable for general domestic or furniture upholstery.

10,000 to 15,000: Light domestic use

A fabric with this score is suitable for light domestic use such as for occasional furniture. It will be dry clean only and is often for fabrics made from delicate yarns.

15,000 - 25,000: General domestic use

A fabric with this score is suitable for general domestic use. It is suitable for everyday use on main house furniture. It is not suitable for items of furniture that put a high level of stress on the fabric such as a recliner.

25,000 - 30,000: Heavy domestic use

A fabric with this score is suitable for high levels of everyday use. It is a heavy-duty fabric that would be suitable for light commercial use and items such as recliners and other motion furniture.

30,000 or more: Commercial use

A score of 30,000 or more means that a fabric is commercial grade, it can be used on heavy duty furniture and would be suitable for any commercial environment.

The Martindale test measures wear on a fabric but it doesn’t test for UV light, chemicals, dirt, or pet claws or stains. All of these and the fabric composition, furniture design and maintenance will also affect the longevity of your furniture.

To view the certifications specific to our flame retardant fabrics, click on the Documents tab underneath the product information.

All fabrics for upholstery need to meet the appropriate fire regulations and will need either a flame-retardant treatment, be inherently fire retardant or to be used with a fire-retardant barrier cloth. ILIV inherently fire-retardant fabrics are included under our “contract fabric” listings.  It is the customer’s responsibility to abide by the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) regulations. Please contact us on 01772 651199 or by emailing sales@smd-textiles.co.uk for further advice. Treatment of your fabric with a flame retardant can be arranged via one of ILIV’s partners. This service is available for an extra charge and may take approximately 14 days.

Although all fabric and upholstery can fade overtime, there are measures that you can take to protect your item from premature ageing and fading. This includes ensuring that your products are clean and free of dust and avoiding any spillages or staining to the fabrics. Should you have any questions about how to care for your fabric or product, please contact our customer care team by calling 01772 651199 or emailing sales@smd-textiles.co.uk .