Cotton is soft, cream coloured cellulosic fiber from the cotton plant. Cotton is strong, sturdy, and the most versatile of the four natural fibers. It is used more often in upholstered furniture than the other natural fibers.

Silk is a fine, strong, shiny protein fiber made from the silkworms spun cocoon. It is used infrequently due to cost.

Wool is a soft bulky protein fiber from the fleece of sheep, or angora and cashmere goats. Specialty fibers come from alpaca, camel, lima and vicuna. Again, used infrequently due to cost.

Linen is a crisp, beige coloured cellulosic fiber from flax, used with fiber blends in upholstery to give a textured look.

Blends are readily available and indeed very popular for a variety of reasons.

No single fiber or finish is superior to all other. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Certain unique characteristic s can make a fiber highly desirable for upholstered furniture. Blending fibers together takes advantage of the best properties of each fiber and can make a better fabric. For example, a sturdy fiber, which does not take dye well, can be blended with a more fragile one that dyes beautifully. The result: a beautiful heavy-duty fabric that is suitable for use in heavier applications.

Technological advantages in the textile industry have led to a huge variety of unusual man-made fibers.

Man-made Fibers

Acetate is made from cellulose and has a luxurious look and feel. Acetate requires special dyes, but colours are permanent. It is very economical, yet looks like silk when blended with other fibers.

Acrylic is the most natural of the man-made fibers. It is soft, warm, lightweight and is used to make many of today's soft plush or fur-like fabrics.

Nylon is smooth, lustrous and the strongest of all fabrics. It can be made in smooth, flat shiny fabrics, pile fabrics, or textured fabrics.

Olefin is the lightest in weight of all man-made fibers providing good bulk and surface coverage.

Marquesa Lana^® and Trace^® Olefin are filament versions of olefin. The filament construction makes the fabric easy to clean, lends tremendous abrasion resistance and inhered fire retardancy.

Polyester is a soft, lightweight fiber with great strength and good resistance to abrasion. It has been used successfully in easy-to-care-for apparel, and is now available in upholstery fabrics.

Rayon is the first of the man-made fibers. It is almost pure cellulose and is soft and comfortable with a good feel. It looks like silk when combined with other fibers and is easy to clean.

Once your fabric has been selected, the next obvious concern would be one of cleanability. All fabrics will carry specific instructions for cleaning.

Water Based Cleaner (W)

Spot clean using the foam only from a water-based cleaning agent such as a mild detergent or non-solvent upholstery shampoo product. Apply foam with a soft brush in a circular motion. Vacuum when dry.

Solvent Cleaner (S)

Spot clean using mild water-free solvent or dry cleaning product. Clean only in a well-ventilated room and avoid any product containing Carbon Tetrachloride or other toxic materials.

Water/Solvent Cleaner (WS)

Spot clean with a mild solvent, an upholstery shampoo or the foam from a mild detergent. When using a solvent or dry cleaning product, follow the instructions carefully and clean only in a well-ventilated room. Avoid any product that contains Carbon Tetrachloride or other toxic materials. With either method, pretest a small area before proceeding.

Vacuum Only (X)

Clean this fabric only by vacuuming or light brushing to prevent accumulation of dust and grime. Water-based foam cleaners or solvent-based cleaning agents of any kind may cause excessive shrinking, staining or distortion of the surface pile and therefore should not be used.