Edges, hems, patches and seams for
woven fabric that has been treated for water repellency, and methods for making the same, are shown and described. In one particular embodiment of the invention, for example, a lapped seam between two pieces of
water repellent fabric has an outer material at least partially overlapping an inner material, and a laminate strip positioned between the overlapping portions of the materials. The outer and inner materials, which are both oriented in the same direction, have an exterior layer of
woven fabric that has been treated with
water repellent and / or
stain repellent chemicals, and an inner layer comprising a
polymer membrane, such as
polyurethane. The laminate strip has a bottom portion in contact with the outer layer of the inner material. The bottom portion has a low melt point, high flow rate
adhesive system of one or more
layers that penetrates and surrounds the fibers in the woven
fiber of the outer layer of the inner piece of material. The laminate strip also has a top layer in contact with the inner layer of the outer piece of material. The top layer of the laminate is a thin, elastic, highly abrasion resistant material with a strong bonding affinity for
polyurethane. The
layers of the laminate strip bond to the adjacent
layers of the overlapped material to create a strong lap seam.