on Metafilter
https://www.metafilter.com/179906/Transporting-Fabrics
Best bit: Berlin's transit system commissioned adidas to make 500 pairs of custom shoes incorporating their distinctive seat fabric. They sold out quick: wearers rode without having to pay a fare for a year.
I'll admit that, while I'm a dedicated public transit rider, I bring my own (exceptionally comfortable) seat, so this a visual-aesthetic issue for me.