Local Craftsmen Provide Quality Upholstery Service

Tara A. Spears

Martin Torres-Los Ayala

Chuy Sanchez-La Penita

Reynoso-Las Varas

Now that Jaltemba Bay has its own supplier of fine upholstery materials, the next step is to know the craftsmen that can take the special fabrics and repair your vehicle seats or favorite comfy home chairs. It’s exciting to meet these talented artisans (in alphabetical order): Santiago Tello Reynoso, cane weaving, Las Varas, 333 248 2068; Tapiceria La Penita, home and auto upholstery, 327 152 0135; Tapiceria Martin’s, auto interiors and home furniture, Los Ayala, 327 690 6860; and Textiles Galilea, 2 locations central La Penita, curtains, cushions, reusable bags,327 . Martin and Textile Galilea speak English. All of the shops are closed on Sundays and all can be contacted via Facebook message.

Please be aware that any bespoke item (which is a custom order, made by hand product) takes time to achieve and is typically more costly than mass produced items of the same thing. But it is usually superior quality and made to your preferences which many people prefer. These four experienced artisans can provide excellent custom auto upholstery, RV matrices and cushions, awnings, curtains, throw pillows and home décor items. You select the fabric and they do the install. In the winter season you need to allow plenty of time for receiving completed work during this busy time. In an effort to make it easier for you to connect, there follows photo cards of each business. Simply right click to open the photo and save it to your phone for reference. The shop street view is included because street signs are not easy to find.

It’s interesting that all of these very specialized craftsmen learned and apprenticed with their family. Most are second/third generation working with their hands. They are proud of their work and want the customer to be happy with the end result.

Santiago Reynoso is a master cane weaver for 15 years.

I included this option because if you’re wanting to refresh your vacation home furniture, wicker does very well in the humid tropics, is unique, and very durable. I’ve always used wicker/cane/rattan interchangeably but there are distinctions. Wicker is a collective word used to describe any type of woven furniture. Wicker furniture is often made with natural materials like reed, cane, rattan, seagrass, bamboo, and willow, but it can be made with synthetic materials like resin and vinyl, too.

Rattan is created from tropical palm trees found in Southeast Asia. It grows upward of 100’! Once rattan grows to a certain point, it bends back down to the ground. It can even grow back into the ground like vines. It is one of the strongest wood species in the world. While it looks and feels like bamboo, the main difference between the two species is that bamboo doesn’t bend like rattan does. Rattan is a popular choice for large pieces of furniture because they have an airy appearance that doesn’t dominate a space.

Cane, on the other hand, is the outer “bark” part of the rattan tree. It’s created by peeling the top layer off of the rattan vine and wrapping it around solid furniture (think hardwood, steel, or aluminum frames). Cane is a great, on-trend choice for a bedframe, credenza, and even light fixtures. Cane is not as porous as rattan, so it can stand up against water and does well in damp environments which makes it popular for pool and patio areas

Jesus Sanchez works out of his house in La Penita. He will pick up and deliver items to be upholstered upon request. Chuy doesn’t stop working to answer the phone, so it’s best to leave a message or call after 8 pm. Also, if you go to the shop directly, you need to bang repeatedly on the street door as he is upstairs because the garage stores materials. He has many satisfied customers and specializes in home furniture: sofa, chairs, headboards.

Martin Torres Tapiceria is the son of the original Los Ayala upholster who passed away 4 years ago. He apprenticed with his parents and now has a more modern business approach: set business hours, media presence, work guaranteed. The shop is open every day but Sunday 8:30 – 6 pm. Cell service is tricky in Los Ayala but they also have a landline: 327 111 7691. Many, many happy customers for truck and car work. His wife, Isabel, is also very skilled and competent upholsterer.

Lastly, the most experienced craftswoman, Ariceli has had a shop for nearly 20 years. She originally opened the only fabric store in Jaltemba Bay. Almost immediately customers asked her to do custom orders of replacement cushions and curtains. Now the custom home décor is 60% of the business and she added a second location on the main Avenida with different items, including women’s clothes. Cheli offers a very good quality PFC fabric suitable for outdoor use. I have some of her products that are still beautiful and unfaded 14 years later! Her line of outdoor fabrics are extra wide to minimize having seams on sofas, chairs, bed cushions. Outdoor fabrics: the best on the market is fabric with nylon (polypropulene) or olefin. Olefin is a byproduct of refining petroleum and is extremely durable and stain-resistant. Olefin along with Acrylic is extremely resistant to fading from the sun. Most types of outdoor fabrics on the market will be acrylic, olefin, or polyester. Polyester fabrics will perform the worst because it has the lowest light fastness rating and they require a PFC chemical finish for stain resistance.

If you are wanting upholstery work, you can get quality materials and labor locally- no need to go to Puerto Vallarta or Tepic for services. To decide which craftsman is right for you, go to their shop, look at what they are working on, see if they are doing complex pieces. Look for straight seams, and smooth lines on cushions, not puffy/uneven work. Ask about pricing. Upholstery is a highly skilled trade, and pricing depends on the complexity of the work and what materials are included. re-upholstery is not an easy task and requires time, tools, the right materials, and knowledge of the process.

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives, the cumulative experience of many masters of craftsmanship. Quality also marks the search for an ideal after necessity has been satisfied and mere usefulness achieved.” John Ruskin

Whether you refresh your seasonal you will find what you desire in Jaltemba Bay!