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I'm planning to do redo the seat covers of my car. Now Delhi heat is terrible most of the year. Even pure leather is intolerable. Plus, I would like to avoid leather for ethical reasons if possible. Heated Car Seat Covers
I have been trying to find alcantara, but don't seem like most of the shops carry it. In fact, they don't know what it is. Most shops carry some kind of velvet, which I don't like in cars and doesn't look good IMHO.
My idea is to get an artificial leather lined seat, but with the back and seat portion made out of alcantara/microfiber-suede. I would kill to get something that looks like this.
Any idea what is the closest thing in India to it ? Some sort of durable, microfiber suede that is easy to clean.
I see a few Indiamart links for ultrasuede (which is an international competitor to alcantara and seems to be manufactured in India), but I don't know if anyone has managed to source it for their use.
Here's what BHPian Kosfactor had to say on the matter:
For seat covers go for Neoprene or premium fabric + synthetic leather combination if you do not like full synthetic leather, for other areas you can use synthetic leather of some kind.
Leather is premium, alcantara is marketing.
Here's what BHPian Indian2003 had to say on the matter:
When I went to Poland to get the car interior done, I was offered Alcantera at a much cheaper price than leather. I went for leather.
The guy told me it will look good when new but the looks would not last as long as leather.
Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:
Alcantara is used in supercars because it offers superior grip, both on the steering and the seats, so you don't slide around. Its function over form here. Of course, because it gained a sexy reputation, alcantara slowly started spreading to other parts of supercar interiors where grip wasn't required.
In mass market cars, alcantara would look awful IMHO! It would have to be really tastefully / carefully done to look nice.
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