Seat Covers Glossary

Custom Fit seat covers are designed to fit almost as well as the original upholstery in shape, size and visual appearance. These covers are made using automation systems that incorporate computer aided designs as well as computer aided manufacturing techniques which permits every pattern to be customized for the materials used in the pattern while ensuring a perfect fit across all material lines.

Semi-custom Fit seat covers obviously do not fit as perfectly as Custom Fit covers but they are, nevertheless, around 80% perfect as against Custom Fit’s 100%. However, Semi-custom fit covers should not be used in vehicles that are equipped with Side Airbag Safety features as they may interfere with its functioning.

Neoprene or Polychloroprene is a multi-utility material that is used mostly in ‘wetsuit’s, laptop sleeves, car fan belts, noise suppression pads, etc that are also being used in seat cover making.

Pelt in upholstery trade usually indicates animal skin (usually of fox, raccoon, beaver, bear, etc) that still has the animal hair, wool or fur attached to it. Pelt ids often used in seat cover making in place of genuine fur which is far too expensive.

Friction in seat cover world means any chafing or rubbing between two similar or dissimilar materials during movement as a result of which heat is generated. The heat thus created often causes surface deterioration of either one or both the materials. Friction happens when you try to get into the automobile or out of it.

Pink Slip is a Yankee slang that stands for the car registration document or certificate. Usually printed in paper having a pinkish hue is probably the reason for the strange nomenclature. The term is also linked with road racing that permitted the winner to grab the loser’s vehicle as the winning prize. However, the prize would not hold much water if the Pink Slip is not involved with it. Hence the popular slogan, ‘Don’t’ lose your Pink Slip”.

Polyester is a tough synthetic water-resisting fiber much regarded by the disco community during the seventies. Polyester is extensively used in automobile seat cover making – there are several other applications as well.

Universal seat covers will fit any high or low-back bucket seat in any automobile of similar dimensions, irrespective of the make, model or year of manufacture of the vehicle. However since these covers are not made with the precise measurements, they rarely if at all provide a good fit and are thus not recommended.

UV or Ultra Violet radiation denotes the emission of Ultra Violet rays that come along with sunrays. UV is not only harmful for human skin and the eyes, UV emissions are damaging to most upholstery materials as well. It causes the ‘oil’ in leather to dry up making it brittle and fragile. A fabric seat cover also gets damaged from prolonged exposure to UV.