At Coastal Furniture, we carefully select the upholstery lines that we carry, choosing those that excel in both style and dependability. We have hundreds of fabric options available, in order to meet each customer’s unique style and needs. Based on some of our customer’s lifestyles, a Performance Fabric is their preference. Not sure what Performance Fabrics are or if you need it on your sofa? Here is some Performance Fabric 101 to find out if choosing a Performance Fabric on your next sofa or chair might be a good choice for you.
What Are Performance Fabrics?
Performance fabrics are those that are easy to clean and are made to withstand the wear and tear of everyday life. With Performance Fabrics, you no longer have to make the choice between furniture that is stylish and furniture that is practical. Why have a beautifully decorated room, after all, if you cannot use it?
Types of Performance Fabrics
Polypropylene, also known as Olefin, is derived from a byproduct of oil and natural gas facilities. This makes it one of the most environmentally friendly options! Polypropylene is soft, fade resistant and inherently stain resistant. It can easily be cleaned with household cleaners and even bleach!
Acrylic yarn is resistant to UV without having treat the fabric with any chemicals. Solution-dyed acrylics are fabrics that are dyed before the yarn is created. By dying the fibers prior to being spun into yarn, the pigment goes all the way through the yarn and the color stays true over time.
Polyester: Strong, synthetic fiber that is easy to care for and resistant to stains, mildew and fading. While not necessarily a branded performance fabric, polyester would be considered an upgrade with better stain resistance qualities over choosing a natural fiber material.
Nylon: Rarely used alone, nylon is usually combined with another fiber to enhance the fiber’s usefulness.
Performance Fabric Brands at Coastal Furniture
As a solution-dyed acrylic fabric, Sunbrella Fabric is fade, mildew and stain resistant. Soft fabrics, great for indoor or outdoor use. Sunbrella fabric is less likely to absorb moisture and leave stains, making it an ideal choice for outdoor furniture. Sunbrella is also bleach cleanable.
Revolution Fabrics: Polypropylene fabric. STI (the creator of Revolution Fabrics) is a family-owned textile mill based out of Kings Mountain, NC. Revolution Fabrics are 100% woven in the USA and use no PFC chemicals. Revolution Fabrics are stain resistant and bleach cleanable and uses environmentally-friendly processes for production.
Life-Approved Fabrics from Four Seasons: (Fortress Performance, Defend, Crypton and Breathe by Milliken) Repel liquids and stains, and are machine washable. Pre-washed for added softness.
Other Fabrics: Outdura, Al Fresco, Fortress Acrylic, Inside Out. All of these options repel stains and liquids, resist fading from sunlight, deliver superior softness, and are machine washable.
Why Choose Performance Fabrics?
We highly recommend choosing Performance Fabrics for furniture pieces that will experience more use. They are a great option for homes with children or sofa-loving pets. Performance Fabric is also an excellent choice for those wanting furniture that is light in color. With a Performance Fabric, a white sofa can become a practical option!
Furniture pieces that are expected to experience the most usage are great options for Performance Fabrics. These include sofas, chairs, recliners and dining chairs. We even sell Revolution Fabric by the yard if you are looking to re-upholster an existing piece!
Still have questions about Performance Fabrics?
Our friendly and knowledgeable team at Coastal Furniture is here to help you every step of the way. We also allow our customers to check out fabric swatches, in order to ensure the color and texture will work in your space! Stop by and see us!