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    Composition of Fabric

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    Jennifer Tolentino
    The document discusses how fabric durability is measured using abrasion or double rub tests, with higher numbers indicating better performance. It also outlines several key factors to consider when selecting durable fabrics for furniture, including material composition. The most durable materials are generally leather, microfiber, cotton (in a canvas weave), wool, olefin, nylon and vinyl. Less durable options include linen and silk, which are better suited to low-traffic areas. When choosing fabrics, it's important to select ones suitable for the intended use and care needs.

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    Composition of Fabric

    Uploaded by

    Jennifer Tolentino
    49 views2 pages
    The document discusses how fabric durability is measured using abrasion or double rub tests, with higher numbers indicating better performance. It also outlines several key factors to consider when selecting durable fabrics for furniture, including material composition. The most durable materials are generally leather, microfiber, cotton (in a canvas weave), wool, olefin, nylon and vinyl. Less durable options include linen and silk, which are better suited to low-traffic areas. When choosing fabrics, it's important to select ones suitable for the intended use and care needs.

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    Composition of Fabric

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    The document discusses how fabric durability is measured using abrasion or double rub tests, with higher numbers indicating better performance. It also outlines several key factors to consider when selecting durable fabrics for furniture, including material composition. The most durable materials are generally leather, microfiber, cotton (in a canvas weave), wool, olefin, nylon and vinyl. Less durable options include linen and silk, which are better suited to low-traffic areas. When choosing fabrics, it's important to select ones suitable for the intended use and care needs.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    49 views2 pages

    Composition of Fabric

    Uploaded by

    Jennifer Tolentino
    The document discusses how fabric durability is measured using abrasion or double rub tests, with higher numbers indicating better performance. It also outlines several key factors to consider when selecting durable fabrics for furniture, including material composition. The most durable materials are generally leather, microfiber, cotton (in a canvas weave), wool, olefin, nylon and vinyl. Less durable options include linen and silk, which are better suited to low-traffic areas. When choosing fabrics, it's important to select ones suitable for the intended use and care needs.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    First thing to know is, how exactly is a fabric's durability measured?

    Most fabrics go by one of


    two test methods, known as Wyzenbeek and Martindale, to give the fabric an "abrasion" or
    "double rub" rating. Essentially, the fabric is pulled tight and rubbed in two directions by a
    standard weight fabric; if two yarn breaks occur, or if noticeable wear is observed, at that point
    the number of rubs is recorded as the abrasion rating. 30,000 double rubs is considered minimum
    durability for commercial use; hotels, conference rooms, etc. Between 30,000 and 100,000 is
    considered heavy duty. Although these tests are only used as tools for predicting wear, it can
    help when looking at fabrics, to know that the higher the abrasion rating number is, the better it
    performed on the durability test.

    There are definitely other factors to consider, though, when picking a fabric based on durability.
    Most fabrics come with standard levels of durability across the board, based simply on what they
    are made out of. The most all-around durable materials are leather and micro-denier ("micro-
    fiber"). Leather is tough and easily vacuumed, wiped clean, and conditioned for long life. Micro-
    denier, made of 100% polyester, is extremely tightly woven, making it very difficult for dirt
    and/or liquids to penetrate its surface, as well as making it very difficult to tear, rip, or pill.
    Cotton, depending on the weave (canvas is the best!), is also very durable in terms of wear, fade,
    and pilling, however it tends to wrinkle and will absorb stains; a cotton-polyester blend is a great
    compromise to help avoid the wrinkling, and a stain treatment can make up for its absorbent
    properties. Wool, although usually very warm, is extremely resistant to pilling, fading, soil, and
    fading. A blend with polyester or rayon can make it more skin-friendly. Manufactured to imitate
    wool, acrylic fibers will not fade, soil, or wear easily, although less expensive versions will
    usually display a certain amount of pilling after some time of heavy use. Rayon can go either
    way - high quality rayon can be extremely durable, but be careful when looking for rayon at a
    very low price - it's likely to wrinkle and can sometimes absorb water stains. Other very durable
    fabrics include olefin, nylon, and vinyl; all very good choices for heavy use pieces of furniture.

    Among the least durable fabrics are linen and silk. Don't get me wrong - both can be gorgeous
    and luxurious additions to a beautiful piece of furniture - but they should probably be used only
    in "adult" areas, where food and drink don't go, as they soil (and wrinkle) easily. They both must
    be professionally cleaned if stained, and will not withstand heavy wear. However, they both
    breathe nicely, and resist pilling and fading.

    Whatever fabric you happen to fall in love with, there will almost always be a more durable
    alternative. If you want leather but don't have the time to care for it, opt for vinyl or micro-suede.
    If you love linen but you need a kid or pet-friendly fabric, opt for synthetic linen (either a
    cotton/poly blend or 100& polyester). If you love the formal and fancy feel of silk and velvet but
    you're not living in a formal environment, try micro-velvet instead. A good piece of furniture
    should fit your tastes, but it also needs to fit your use of it; make sure you are honest with
    yourself from the beginning about how you treat your sofa, and it will be smooth sailing!

    Kara Pierce is a Senior Design Consultant at The Sofa Company which specializes in Custom
    Sofas, Sectionals and Chairs in Los Angeles, CA. The Sofa Company is also promoting the use
    of environmentally friendly / eco-friendly materials in all of its manufacturing. Within 3-5 years
    as price of green materials becomes more and more affordable, The Sofa Company hopes to
    build only completely green sofas and green couches as the standard.

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