PERFORMANCE READY

BY TARYN PEARCE

There was a time when you had to sacrifice comfort if you wanted fabric that offered a high level of performance. Stain and fade resistance came in the form of stiff, scratchy fabrics that elevated function over feel. Performance fabrics were used predominantly outdoors; indoor applications remained infrequent outside of doctor’s office waiting rooms and the occasional playroom bench cushion.

THE CARROT AND THE RADISH

Not all performance fabrics are made equal. A good rule of thumb is to look for a solutiondyed acrylic like products offered by Sunbrella.

“Sunbrella (fabric) is like a carrot,” says Franck Seguin, former sales manager for Trivantage in Glen Raven, NC, and current market director for Trivantage’s sister company, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics in Burlington, NC. “You can take the yarn and peel it and peel it and peel it and it will still be orange to the end. Other fabrics dye a fiber and can call it a

For designers trying to decide if a performance fabric is going to have the right textural quality, the best advice he can give is to feel it yourself. “It’s hard to explain with just words. This is why we have a lot of showrooms. People need to touch the fabrics.”

PATTERNS, TEXTURES AND NEUTRAL COLORS ARE ALL THE RAGE

For performance fabrics, just like for traditional fabrics at the moment, neutral tones are in—especially when combined with supple textures. “Both velvet and linen textures are more in demand inside,” says Seguin. As for colors, brighter shades such as paprika are more popular for outdoor use, while grays, beige, off-white and darker blues such as indigo are in demand for the indoor. He also suggests that sustainable fibers, like those found in Sunbrella’s Pure Upholstery collection, are a growing trend. They can be used indoor and outdoor for high water and sun resistance.

“Patterns and textures are both extremely popular now, as can be seen in our new Ovation 4 collection of 103 new fabrics, including blends of dobbies, jacquards and stripes,” says King.

While performance fabrics come at a higher starting price point than most traditional fabrics, designers can assure their clients that the investment is well worth it. From sofas and outdoor lounge chairs to drapery and even pet beds, performance fabrics are here to stay.