Performance Fabrics

Performance Fabrics: What’s the Big Deal?

performance fabrics

If you’ve purchased new furniture in the past couple years, or if you’ve looked into purchasing furniture recently, then you might have heard about performance fabrics. What is the big deal with these fabrics and what makes them different than other upholstery fabrics? Well, keep reading to learn everything there is to know about performance fabrics and what makes them perfect for your home!

What are performance fabrics?

Performance fabrics are magic! …Okay, so they aren’t actually magic, but they might as well be! They use science and other forms of wizardry to make them easy to clean and stain resistant! These fabrics have different properties that make them uniquely family and pet friendly.

Performance fabricsThere are several different types of performance fabrics, and while they all share easy care and cleanability, they all also have their own unique properties depending on which kind you choose to use. As with all things, some of these materials may fit your family’s needs and lifestyle better than others. The following is a list of the different types of performance fabric materials available to you:

  • Olefin: This performance fabric is versatile and made from upcycled petroleum production. It’s naturally easy to clean, water resistant, and washable. It can be found in wovens, velvets, and textures. This is not a treated fabric, unlike some other performance fabrics are.
  • Acrylic: This fabric fiber is a lot like wool. Like Olefin, it is resistant to liquids and stains.  It’s easy to clean and resistant to wrinkles.
  • Polyester: Everyone is familiar with polyester. This performance fabric is pretty easy to find. It is extremely durable, Quick-drying and super resistant to pilling.Performance Fabrics

Knowing the different types of materials that make up most performance fabrics is helpful when your looking at different fabric options for your new living room furniture. Every furniture manufacture has these family friendly fabrics in their line, but they often use different brand names to identify them. Navigating this, without the help of a designer, can be quite tricky. I’ve compiled a list of the different brand names you might hear when hunting for easy clean fabrics.

Different brand names for family friendly fabrics:

Revolution Fabrics– Revolution Fabrics by STI and Brentwood Textiles are luxury performance fabrics without the luxury price. The fabrics are stain-resistant, fade-resistant, easy to clean and extremely durable. Made with recycled fibers and are “forever chemical-free”, making them safe for your home and the environment.  Boasting properties like bleach cleanability, heavy duty durability, and environmentally friendly PFSA chemical free.  100% American made and they come with 3 year warranties.

performance fabricsInside/out fabrics– Inside/Out Performance Fabrics are the first all-in-one performance fabric that can withstand the elements of the outdoors and all of the messes that happen indoors. Perfect for pets and small children! That’s right, these fabrics are suitable for both indoor and outdoor uses. They boast heavy duty durability. Bleach cleanable, 100% American made, PFSA free and environmentally friendly. They are also mold and mildew resistant, quick drying and come with a 3 year warranty.Performance Fabric

Sunbrella Fabrics– You’ve probably heard of Sunbrella, because they have been around since the 1960s (although a lot has changed since then). These fabrics are 100% solution-dyed acrylic and offer UV protection! Spills and messes happen. Luckily, Sunbrella fabrics are easy to clean, durable, water resistant, and stain resistant. They are also mold and mildew resistant and bleach cleanable. Covered by a 5 year warranty.

Performance fabrics Crypton Fabrics– Crypton Home is an engineered high-performance upholstery fabric. Transformed on a molecular level, it offers lifelong stain, moisture, and odor protection. These fabrics are PFAS free, anti-microbial, and emit no VOCs. Although not bleach cleanable, they are made to easily release water soluble stains and spills. Mild soap and water is recommended for most stubborn stains. Covered by a 5 year warranty.

Live Smart Fabrics–  Produced exclusively with low denier performance yarns that are encapsulated with a stain and moisture repellent finish. spills bead up on the surface of the fabric instead of penetrating into the cushion. These fabrics boast high cleanability and stain resistance. They are free from harmful chemicals and PFAS. While not bleach cleanable, these fabrics can be cleaned with a mix of mild detergent and water. Covered by a 3 year warranty.

Need more information?

Navigating all of the choices available to you while shopping for new furniture for your home can be tricky. Hopefully, armed with this information, you’ll be able to easily select the right performance fabric for your family. If you are looking to learn more about family friendly fabrics, or would like to know more about the services and products we offer here at Saratoga Signature Interiors please give us a call! We would be happy to hear from you!