An innkeeper has a lot to think about when shopping for new quilts, or coverlets, or high-quality blankets.
- For starters, there’s the visual attractiveness of the item, which is of paramount importance in the lodging industry. There’s also the quality—or lack thereof—with which the item been constructed.
- How about the level of comfort a coverlet or quilt, for instance, will bring to a customer? The comfort of a guest room item is certainly something that’s worth thinking about long and hard.
- And of course, there are the dual matters of price and value: Given its design, its construction, and the materials used to make it, is the product you’re interested in fairly priced?
If you’re an innkeeper or a B&B proprietor who has purchased your fair share of bedding supplies and bath accessories, those are probably all decisions that sound familiar. But when deciding whether or not to buy a certain pillow, say, or a set of throw rugs, have you ever given any sort of consideration to the product’s binding?
If you haven’t, you’re certainly not alone. After all, paying close attention to the way in which two pieces of fabric are sewn together isn’t generally something most people do. But if you’re an innkeeper—or even a discriminating housekeeper—details are important, are they not?
If you agree, then the binding on your textile products is definitely something you should take seriously. There are two main rationales that support that argument:
High quality binding protects your textiles
The primary purpose of a textile item’s binding is to cover and protect the raw edges of a fabric from fraying or unraveling through the wear and tear of being used or washed. The binding can be as simple as a strip of complementary fabric or tape that’s sewn on to encase the edge. It’s a simple fact that a textile product with a strong, well-constructed binding will last much longer than a similar product with weak or cheap binding. The longer you can keep those frayed edges from appearing, the better.
Binding acts as a design element
Binding also provides a finished look and a design element. It provides a visual frame—or border—and adds interest to the final product. That’s why so many bindings are highly decorative—a braided binding is one such example. A self-binding, meanwhile, uses the back of the fabric itself wrapped around to the front and stitched in place.
We sell a number of textile products at InnStyle.com that sport highly decorative bindings. Take a look at our Diamond Pique Coverlet, for instance (pictured here), a lovely bedding cover with embroidered scalloped edges. Our Down Alternative Blanket, pictured at the top of this page, features a rather luxurious faux mink binding on this high quality blanket. Our ever-popular 4 Seasons Microfiber Blanket, meanwhile, is constructed with a satin binding. We also offer a Turkish-style Hammam towel with especially strong piped edging.
If you’re looking for a specific textile product, or a product with a certain sort of binding or edging, please call us at 1-800-877-4667 or email us at info@innstyle.com with any questions. Our friendly sales reps will welcome your inquiries and guide you through the process of purchasing just the right product for your inn, home or vacation rental property.