Fabrics have changed in content through the ages.

Natural Fibers such as cotton, linen and silk are still available and very popular.

• Dyes, prints and takes special finishes well
• Durable, high absorbency
• Excellent resistance to pilling
• Fair resistance to abrasive
• Good resistance to soil when treated with a protective finish
• 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
Iis 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
Aare readily available and indeed very popular for a variety of reasons.

Fiber
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

• Available in deep, rich, vivid colours
• Strong and durable
• Easy to clean, dries quickly
• Resists spotting due to low absorbenc
• Resistant to moths, mildew and rotting
• 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
Iis 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
Iis smooth, lustrous and the strongest of all fabrics. It can be made in smooth, flat shiny fabrics, pile fabrics, or textured fabrics.

Olefin
Iis 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.