When shopping for drapery, upholstery, or carpeting do you ever feel the sales people and decorators are speaking a foreign or even a secret language? “FR”, “rubs”, “crocking” - all these describe features of various fabrics used in residential and hospitality design. Understanding some of these terms will benefit you when it comes time to redecorate.
In a commercial or hospitality setting durability, fabric maintenance and safety take precedence over design or color. But these days, it is relatively easy to find fabrics that look good, clean up well, and last. Consider these features when choosing fabrics for the common areas:
Abrasion Resistance: 50,000 double “rub” durability is the minimum for high use seating. Higher rub count means the fabric is less likely to tear, pill, or wear with continued use. Most important when purchasing upholstered furniture.
Stain-Resistance: this feature is often “cooked” into the threads as the fabric is woven. Spills usually bead up on the surface and can be wiped away. This feature lasts for the life of the upholstered piece.
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Microbial protection: necessary for premier sanitation standards and can be found on fabrics used for window treatments as well as upholstery fabric and accessories such as cushions, pillows, and bolsters.
Moisture Barrier: the fabric can be chemically treated with a moisture barrier. Some fabrics inherently provide moisture barriers which are important in upholstery and seating fabrics, these fabrics include vinyls and Naugahyde material.
Flame Retardant (FR) and Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR: fabrics must meet certain national safety standards for burning, melting, self-extinguishing, etc. IFR fabrics are made of threads that have inherent flame resistant properties. FR fabrics may lose their effectiveness over the course of several years due to chemicals application processes.
Light Fastness/Fade Resistance: all fabrics will fade when exposed to direct sunlight. Natural fabrics like cotton, wool, linen, and silk usually fade faster than man-made fibers. Wood finishes also fade when exposed to the sun so make sure wood floors and furniture are protected from the sun by appropriate window coverings that will diffuse the light.
Greenguard, OEKO-TEX, and others are standards that identify textiles that do not emit harmful fumes, are safe around children and other fragile populations, or are made from recycled materials.
Fabrics in every fabric, furniture or retail store may exhibit some of these features. However, all of the features above can be found in a variety of Contract grade fabrics. Contract grade fabrics are available through Contract Furniture sources and interior designers.
Before making a fabric selection, consider these properties:
Crocking: unstable dyes can rub off the surface of the dyed fabrics onto the skin and clothing, which happens most frequently with blues and reds.
Abrasion Resistance/Tensile Strength: select fabrics that resist rips, tears, or punctures.
Seam Slippage: to avoid twisted seams, use fabric with tighter weave. Use fabric that contains a higher denier/thread count or Contract grade.
Hydrostatic Resistance: check fabric for water and stain resistance.
Firm ‘hand’ or Soft ‘hand’: The ‘hand’ describes the feel of the fabric. Firmer fabrics that are tight, and have a flat weave generally wear better. The exception is velvets or microfibers which are smooth, is plusher and extra durable.
Desirable fabric characteristics may add cost but also add value. Color and pattern design affect the price. Consider something as basic as 100 percent cotton fabric. A solid quilting or lining fabric would cost less to manufacture than a brightly-colored, ornate print.
Another factor that determines the cost is denier, thread count or tightness of weave as evidenced by the price difference between 200 counts versus 800 count bed sheets. Fabric cost or fabric grade does not indicate durability. True cost and durability are based on pattern design, chemical processes and manufacturing expense. Choose fade-resistant and stain-resistant options for durability and ease of care. With so many fabric options available, decide what features serve business needs best. Invest in the smartest options and give yourself the gift of one less thing to think about for years to come.