How Trimmers Are Using Technology To Elevate Their Craft

A good custom interior is a critical part of any show car, and the calibre of the workmanship that goes into upholstery these days is simply mind blowing.

Forget elite level cars like Craig McKenzie’s HR ute which features ‘floating’ bucket seats; even your average Street Elite car these days boasts the kind of custom trim that would have floored the judges ten years ago!

What’s driving this seemingly unassailable surge towards ever-more intricate interiors? A large part of it can be attributed to new tools and processes helping trimmers achieve upholstery nirvana, and the other part of the equation is a young breed of new trimmers keen to use said technology to push the boundaries.

One such trimmer is Darren Baldwin of Stitched Up Custom Trim, who has set and reset the bar when it comes to implementing groundbreaking technology in the field, and pioneering new and unusual materials.

His revolutionary vision has seen his work pop up inside countless Summernats and MotorEx builds, including Henry Parry’s unforgettable FB Holden known as ‘Old Love’, Dean Beattie’s drool-worthy gold VL IH830L and Brett Hewerdine’s 1BAD49 Ford single-spinner that debuted at Summernats alongside Mick Matthews’ XF falcon earlier this year.

“I left school at 16, the day after completing my School Certificate, and stepped straight into a job learning motor trimming,” begins Darren, starting at Bruce Hall Motor Trimming who specialised in 1950s-era sports car restorations. “I owe so much to Bruce for giving me a start, and his worth ethic is amazing. He’s still in the industry at 76!”

“I worked there for a few years, but I wanted to learn the custom side of things too so I spent the next few years at Brad’s Custom Trim, turning out a lot of custom work and Autosalon-style custom trims,” he explains of the diverse education that’s led to his varied skill set.

Over the years, two things have ring fenced Stitched Up’s work - their implementation of cutting edge technology, and their insistence on making the custom trim look as subtle and OEM as possible.

“We’ve copped a bit of flack for the latter over the years, but it’s important to me that the trim ties in with the car - you can’t have the inside of a HQ looking like a spaceship, nor can you have too many off-the-shelf parts.

We want the trims to look modern whilst suiting the car, like they’ve come out of a vehicle manufacturer’s concept vehicle design studio.”

“We spend a lot of time with samples, making sure that what we choose is aligning with what the car requires, and what the owner needs.

We try to look outside the box and bend the rules a bit - like using different materials of the same colour to introduce contrast, instead of overloading the trim with different colours,” he adds, before admitting that sometimes he’ll seek inspiration from outside of the automotive realm.

“I’ll look at product design, or house design or something obscure like a woodworking page on social media and see a shape that I’m inspired to incorporate into a trim,” admits Daz.

As well as pushing the boundaries with material choice, Daz and the team - each of them integral in constantly pushing the brand to constantly innovate - are also employing the latest techniques to help their trims stand out.

“We started with laser etching a few years ago and that’s transformed into 3D printing, 3D modeling and CNC-assisted manufacturing. As the trims become more complex and the standards for tolerances and fit and finish continue to rise, it’s probably unfair to just call us a trim shop these days. Maybe 10% of what we do anymore is actual stitching,” he explains.

But don’t think for a second that technology is making their job any easier - if anything, it’s more time intensive than a traditional trim. “So much work goes in behind the scenes, and we’re trying to showcase that.

Some big builds will involve multiple planning meetings with the owner and other shops at the start of the project - that’s the best way to do it, and it gets the best results,” he goes on to say.

But fancy tools and years of experience are all surpassed by one of the key factors that make Stitched Up and its products truly special, and that’s the passion and enthusiasm that Daz and the team pour into their craft.

“We push all our customers to choose practical trims that they’re more inclined to use because we’re all enthusiasts and want to see the cars driven!” he beams.

“We’ve got a great culture amongst the guys at the shop - I’m not the boss, I work here just like each one of the team and I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many talented people.”

“We do ‘Old School Fridays’ where everyone drives in their old cars and parks them out the front. I think that’s one of the biggest shifts you’re seeing in the industry now - people building cars they can use, instead of building cars that just look good on social media!” he says in closing.