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Every boat project – and every customer – is different and your guidance is key to ensuring optimal results. It all starts with selecting the right marine fabric. Selecting fabric can be one of the most exciting steps, but it can also be challenging with all the different types available on the market.
We have compiled a brief rundown of the basics of fabric, including terms you might see when browsing our fabric selection. Our goal is to save you time, so you can get back to creating – and to help you recommend fabrics that ensure optimal results and customer satisfaction.
The Raw Material
The raw material, either natural or manufactured, that forms the basic element of fabrics and other textile structures is called fiber. Individual fibers are spun together to make yarn. This yarn is then woven into fabric.
Textile yarn can be made with natural fibers from substances such as wool, silk, cotton, or linen. Yarn can also be made with synthetic (or man-made) fibers created from a variety of substances like acrylic, nylon, or polyester. Most Sunbrella upholstery fabrics are made from 100% Sunbrella Acrylic.
All Sunbrella fabrics are manufactured with Color to the Core™ technology. This proprietary process means each foundational fiber is saturated with color and UV-stabilized pigments. Once saturated, the proprietary fiber is spun into yarns which are then woven into our long-lasting performance fabric. Color to the Core™ technology ensures years of beautiful living with color that stays true over time, maintaining the strength and integrity of the fabric through years of cleaning, wear, and exposure to the elements.
Types of Fabric
The different types of upholstery fabric include cotton, linen, chenille, leather, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, vinyl and nylon. Upholstery fabric can be constructed from one type of yarn or a blend of yarns. Choosing the right fabric for your application will ensure the success and longevity of your boat project.
Learn more: Check out recent Marine Trends and download the free comprehensive guide
“How to Choose the Right Marine Fabric”
Common Terms To Know
Jacquard – A jacquard is a fabric has a design or motif woven into the construction of the weave. Jacquards come in an array of designs like florals, stripes, chevrons, or geometric patterns, to name a few.
Boucle – Boucle yarn is yarn made from a series of looped fiber. Boucle fabric is fabric woven from boucle yarn. Derived from the French word meaning “curled” or “ringed,” boucle yarn produces a fabric with a knotty, chunky texture.
Mélange – Two or more fiber types (or the same fiber type) of different colors spun together into yarn. Mélange yarns produce a fabric with a heathered texture.
Slub – Slub yarn is yarn spun with intentional irregularities in diameter – some sections of yarn are thicker and some are thinner to add texture to the woven fabric.
Pattern vs. Print
You’ll recognize the terms patterned or printed when it comes to fabric designs. Many fabrics will feature a printed design, where a color or colors are applied to the face of the fabric to create the design.
This contrasts with a pattern design where the colors of the design are woven into the fabric using various yarn colors. The main benefits of woven pattern fabrics are the texture and dimension this process provides. Printed fabrics tend to be flat, and prints can fade easily in the sun. Woven Sunbrella fabrics provide dimensional texture and offer UV resistance for color that stands up to the elements and wear and tear for years to come.
Learn more: Check out recent Marine Trends and download the free comprehensive guide
“How to Choose the Right Marine Fabric”
As a performance fabric industry pioneer, Sunbrella is always researching and developing new ways of bringing durability, comfort, and style to the places people live, work, and play. Sunbrella is committed to creating high-quality performance products that provide comfort for the coziest spaces, color retention for years of enjoyment, cleanability for all of life’s messes, and strength that lasts.