Top 5 Guide to Premium Fabrics

The best water repellent fabrics are built to last for a long time without losing their color, durability and also maintain the main characteristic that makes these fabrics useful - the ability to repel water. A premium fabric that does this job well gives you the peace of mind that spills and liquid stains won’t spoil your day. You also don’t have to worry about the covers for your outdoor and poolside furniture.

The UV Pro collection is a fine example of this yet does not compromise on design choices with plenty of striped, patterned and color designs to choose from. With a 5 year warranty against color fading, the premium fabric of this brand is the best solution for both indoor and outdoor use.

One of the worst possible accidents that could happen in a home is fire. Faulty electrical wiring or equipment, heating, barbeques, candles are potential causes of house fires. A premium fabric that is fire retardant may not prevent the cause of fires but it will definitely help prevent fires from spreading out of control.

From a commercial point of view, fire retardant fabric is an even more important consideration. A hotel, theater or even a cruise ship may have thousands of square meters of fabric. All those curtains, sofa covers, carpeted floors and upholstery concentrated within one location makes fires even more likely to spread. Therefore a premium fabric with this important quality seems to be the only logical choice.

The FR-One brand is a great example of fire retardant premium fabric that meets stringent international standards whilst offering nearly 2,000 attractive designs. The FR-One fabric is not chemically treated, but through technological advancements the molecules of the fabric itself have been made fire retardant. This ensures no dangerous chemicals are released during wash and the dependability of the fire retardant properties will never fade.

When we buy premium fabrics we want to make sure that it lasts a very long time. Even if a fabric looks tough and feels tough, at best this is a superficial test of durability. Again, the only way to be truly certain of a quality product is through independent testing. Labotex is a laboratory accredited by ISO and other standards. The lab conducts a variety of mechanical tests like the Wyzenbeek and Martindale tests. These tests will simulate actual usage of the fabric with different methods called “rubs” and the results are recorded when the threads of the fabric are broken or the appearance has changed. The end result is recorded as rubs - e.g. 40,000 rubs Martindale or 30,000 double rubs Wyzenbeek. The higher the number, the more durable the fabric. We can find out the certified durability of the premium fabric we are purchasing by checking with the supplier.