| Just a few years ago, most outdoor fabrics were | | | | for them. From indoor drapery to standard |
| scratchy and rough. They were meant to | | | | furniture upholstery, Sunbrella is rapidly becoming |
| withstand weather's harshness more than feeling | | | | a go to source for decorators. Its durability is |
| good against the skin. Sunbrella fabrics changed | | | | unsurpassed as are the variations in weaves and |
| both the way outdoor fabrics look as well as the | | | | colors. It is not unusual to see it used for high-end |
| way they feel. | | | | upholstery either indoors or out. |
| The demand for higher quality fabrics for garden | | | | For interior designers or the homeowner, who |
| and patio furniture took years to see results. | | | | wants to link their indoor and outdoor areas, it has |
| Traditional colors were limited to solids or stripes | | | | been made all the easier with such refined fabrics. |
| with very little imagination. Today, the fabrics | | | | Because the fabric can be used anywhere, the |
| made by Sunbrella are varied and come in | | | | line of interior and exterior can now easily |
| patterns and colors that are even finding their | | | | become a blur. There's no longer such a distinction |
| way indoors as well. | | | | in designing specifically for these two types of |
| Originally, outdoor fabrics were constructed of all | | | | living. The fabric becomes a great unifier of space |
| nylon or other synthetics and made with a loose | | | | and design, and follows today's trend of extending |
| weave so water would dry quickly. Today's | | | | the living area to the outdoors. |
| fabrics have eliminated the need to even use | | | | Sunbrella continues to introduce new fabrics on a |
| Scotch Guard protection. Kevlar or teflon is | | | | consistent basis. They also continue to introduce |
| woven into the fabric allowing for an ultimate | | | | new facets of durability too. This means that |
| product that is much more like fine, indoor fabrics. | | | | larger and larger ranges can be found in both |
| The benefits of Sunbrella are many. Vibrant colors | | | | fabric by the yard and furniture that is |
| and patterns are unaffected by sun. Even the old | | | | non-custom. For the consumer, it means more |
| nylon fabrics would eventually fade but there is no | | | | choices with longer warranties too. |
| longer that worry with these new ones. The | | | | There are variations in Sunbrella fabrics. The |
| fabric has a built-in sunscreen so expect years of | | | | differences in added repellency is notable but is |
| no change in the color. | | | | easily detected through the way the fabrics are |
| The fabrics also withstand the worst of stains. A | | | | numbered. It pays to do some research about |
| little soapy water and a towel will remove almost | | | | the different levels of protection when shopping |
| any soil including wine or chocolate. For the family | | | | for the best option for a home project. It is also |
| with children or dogs, there's never a need to | | | | wise to beware of seconds from mills or cut-rate |
| sacrifice beauty for durability either. | | | | versions. The fabrics may not contain everything |
| These new changes in the way outdoor fabrics | | | | needed to make it a lasting addition to your |
| are manufactured are creating a variety of uses | | | | outdoor area. |