Vehicle seat assembly and method of forming

A component for a vehicle seat assembly, comprising:

• a unitary seat cushion having a first side, and a second side that is opposite to the first side;
• and
• a former extending outwardly from the second side of the seat cushion to a distal end spaced apart from the seat cushion, wherein the former cooperates with a portion of the second side of the seat cushion to define an open channel therebetween, wherein the open channel is sized to receive a seam of a trim cover assembly that includes a first trim panel connected to a second trim panel via the seam, wherein each of a first retention member and a second retention member within the open channel cooperates with each other to retain the seam within the open channel, wherein the former defines a first side wall of the open channel, and the second side of the seat cushion defines a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, and wherein the first side wall defined by the former faces away from the second side of the seat cushion.

A seat assembly, comprising:

• a former that extends outwardly from a side of a seat cushion to a distal end region of the seat cushion, wherein the former cooperates with a portion of the side of the seat cushion to define an open channel therebetween, and wherein the former defines a first side wall of the open channel, and the side of the seat cushion defines a second side wall opposite to the first side wall;
• and
• a trim cover assembly comprising a first trim panel and a second trim panel that is connected with the first trim panel, via a seam, wherein the seam is configured to be received within the open channel to engage the trim cover assembly with the seat cushion, and wherein each of a first retention member and a second retention member within the open channel cooperates with each other to retain the seam within the open channel.