Improvements in outdoor upholstery fabric lead to stylish selections

Thibaut Inc.'s Courtyard Collection is the company’s first indoor/outdoor offering of colorfast, stain-resistant prints and woven upholstery fabric. Patterns can be mixed and matched to create a custom look for porches, patios, decks, kitchens, family rooms, baths, bedrooms and more. Shown here, in the Aqua colorway, is Bolton–a large, Jacobean woven pattern with a modern graphic look.

Textiles designed specifically for outdoor use have been around since 1961– the year that textile manufacturer Glen Raven Inc. introduced Sunbrella®, a ground-breaking, solution-dyed acrylic able to withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight, water and other outdoor elements. However, for many years, outdoor pattern and color choices remained extremely limited, and the hand of these fabrics was far from luxurious.

More recently, the number of resources offering outdoor fabric options has surged, in keeping with the increased attention paid to the design of outdoor living areas in general. The same market forces that have been driving sales of outdoor furniture and accessories also have been driving improvements in upholstery fabric, ushering in a new generation of stylish performance products at home anywhere sun-, stain- and water-resistance is desired.

Among the most recent illustrations of this trend is Thibaut Inc.’s Courtyard Collection, the company’s first-ever outdoor offering of upholstery fabric. Developed in response to customer demand, the collection features colorfast, stain-resistant prints and wovens that are perfect for outdoor and indoor use.

“Two patterns in particular—Bolton and Gabriel—are suitable for indoor use because they don’t have an outdoor theme and are family-friendly, with a lot of charm,” said Thibaut’s Stacy Senior. Bolton is a woven upholstery fabric with a large, graphic, Jacobean-inspired pattern that pairs well with Gabriel, a modern trellis design with geometric, interlocking diamonds.

Meanwhile, Sunbrella originator Glen Raven is working hard to put a fashion spin—in the most literal sense—on its newest collection of woven jacquard performance fabrics. To call attention to the stylish new look of what used to be utilitarian outdoor products, the company is sponsoring fashion shows, in furniture stores, featuring apparel made from its fabrics. The events are hosted by home furnishings expert Joe Ruggiero, who designs Sunbrella fabrics and the outfits worn during the shows.

“The fashion shows are an example of taking a familiar product and putting it into a different context for a huge impact,” Ruggiero said. “Another benefit of the fashion shows is how they illustrate the crossover in design influences between home furnishings and apparel. Many of the fabrics that I am designing today are influenced by trends in apparel, and the Sunbrella fashion shows really bring that point across.”