Agora or Sunbrella
Two premium acrylics side by side
Both are solution-dyed premium acrylics with high lightfastness, four fire safety standards and a 5-year colour guarantee. Sunbrella Natte brings the brand name, Greenguard Gold and the natte weave; the Agora family brings more widths, a larger colour range and recycled versions - usually at a lower price.
Two premium acrylics on equal technical footing
Agora and Sunbrella Natte play in the same league: both 100% solution-dyed acrylic, both colourfast, fire-certified and covered by a 5-year guarantee. Both are premium outdoor fabric qualities suited to cushions, pillows, awnings and sun sails - the differences sit in the detail: brand, certificates, widths and price.
Same fibre technology
Both fabrics are solution-dyed: the colour sits inside the fibre core and cannot fade out or wash out. That is why both reach very high lightfastness - Agora 7-8/8, Sunbrella Natte 8/8 indoor - and why both carry five years of colour guarantee.
Weave and surface
Sunbrella Natte comes exclusively in the structured natte weave (braided 3/2) with its grainy, high-end surface. Agora offers both: Agora Liso is smooth, Agora Panama has a comparable panama structure - so you can pick the look you want.
Widths and colours
Agora Liso comes in 137, 160 and 320 cm and offers more than 90 colours. The 320 cm width is decisive for large sun sails and curtains without a seam. Sunbrella Natte comes in 140 cm. On large-format projects Agora has a clear edge here.
Certificates and sustainability
Sunbrella Natte is the only fabric in our range certified Greenguard Gold (tested for low emissions) and made in France. Agora is certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, finished with Eco-Shield (PFAS-free) and offers recycled Life versions in a closed loop.
Agora and Sunbrella Natte in direct comparison
All figures come from the manufacturers' data sheets. For Agora the values of the standard versions Agora Liso and Agora Panama are given.
| Property | Agora (Liso / Panama) | Sunbrella Natte |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre | 100% acrylic, solution-dyed | 100% acrylic, solution-dyed |
| Weight | 260 g/m2 (Liso) / 280 g/m2 (Panama) | 290 g/m2 |
| Width | 137 / 160 / 320 cm | 140 cm |
| Weave | smooth (Liso) or panama | natte weave (braided 3/2) |
| Lightfastness (ISO 105-B02) | 7-8/8 | 8/8 indoor |
| Fire safety ex works | 4 standards | 4 standards (Cal TB 117, NFPA 260, EN 1021-1, BS 5852) |
| Care | clean at 30 C, diluted bleach 1:20 possible | machine wash 30 C, do not bleach |
| Certificates | OEKO-TEX, Eco-Shield (PFAS-free) | OEKO-TEX 100, REACH, Greenguard Gold, PFAS-free |
| Colour range | more than 90 colours | wide Sunbrella palette |
| Sustainability | recycled Life versions (closed loop) | PFAS-free, made in France |
| Colour guarantee | 5 years | 5 years |
| Origin | Europe (Spain) | made in France |
| Price level | premium, usually below Sunbrella | premium, upper segment |
Every test value from the data sheets, side by side
Most suppliers quote weight and colour - the actual load values stay unmentioned. Here they are in full, each with the test standard behind it. For Agora the values of Agora Panama are given, the direct panama alternative to Sunbrella Natte. What the individual values mean is explained in lightfastness, Martindale, UPF and water column.
| Test value (standard) | Agora Panama | Sunbrella Natte |
|---|---|---|
| Lightfastness (ISO 105-B02) | 7-8/8 | 8/8 indoor |
| Artificial weathering (ISO 105-B04) | 7-8/8 | 4/5 after 1,000 h |
| Abrasion, Martindale (ISO 12947) | 20,000 rubs | not stated by the manufacturer |
| Pilling (ISO 12945-2) | 4-5/5 | 5/5 |
| Tensile strength (ISO 13934-1) | warp 1,900 N / weft 950 N | warp 180 daN / weft 100 daN per 5 cm |
| Tear strength (ISO 13937-3) | warp 170 N / weft 150 N | not stated by the manufacturer |
| Seam slippage (ISO 13936-2) | warp 5.0 mm / weft 3.0 mm | warp below 3 mm / weft below 5 mm |
| Seam strength (ISO 13935-2) | not stated by the manufacturer | above 350 N in both directions |
| Spray test (ISO 4920) | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Water column (ISO 811) | 180 mm | not stated by the manufacturer |
| UV protection (AS/NZS 4399) | UPF 50+ | not stated by the manufacturer |
| Rub fastness, dry (ISO 105-X12) | 4-5/5 | 5/5 |
| Chlorinated water (ISO 105-E03) | 5/5 | not stated by the manufacturer |
| Shrinkage on washing (ISO 5077) | warp -1.5% / weft 0% | 1% in both directions |
Three values that actually decide the purchase
Data sheets are long, but only a few values decide whether a fabric suits your project. These three are worth knowing.
Lightfastness decides how long the colour lives
The scale runs from 1 to 8, and each step roughly doubles the time the colour holds under sun. Both fabrics sit at the top because they are solution-dyed: the colour is inside the fibre core, not on its surface. A conventionally dyed upholstery fabric often reaches only 5-6/8 and looks visibly dull after three summers.
Seam slippage tells you whether seams hold
The value measures how far threads shift next to a loaded seam - the smaller, the better. Both fabrics stay well inside the uncritical range below 6 mm. For heavily tensioned uses such as sun sails this matters more than the fabric weight.
Spray test and water column are two different things
The spray test to ISO 4920 rates how water beads off - both fabrics reach the top mark of 5/5. The water column measures the pressure the fabric withstands instead. Agora Panama is tested at 180 mm; that does not make an acrylic weave genuinely waterproof - the Waterproof versions exist for that.
The strengths of both fabrics at a glance
More than 90 colours, three widths up to 320 cm, smooth and panama weave, plus a recycled Life line and a genuine waterproof version. Agora covers almost every outdoor application - cushions, sun sails, curtains - and usually costs less than Sunbrella.
The best-known brand name in outdoor textiles, the only fabric certified Greenguard Gold, and made in France. The structured natte weave with pilling grade 5/5 looks and feels particularly high-end. First choice when brand, low indoor emissions or origin decide.
Where each fabric typically goes
Outdoor cushions and seat pads, sun sails, awnings and curtains, privacy screens as well as yacht and marine upholstery. The 320 cm width and the large colour range make Agora especially flexible on large-format and colour-matched projects. Being suitable for diluted bleach is a real advantage on stubborn stains such as mould or bird droppings.
Premium garden furniture cushions, outdoor curtains, decorative pillows and contract work in hotels and restaurants. Greenguard Gold makes the fabric suitable for low-emission interiors too. Architects and designers often specify Sunbrella by name - the brand carries trust.
When Agora, when Sunbrella?
Since both fabrics sit very close technically, the decision usually comes down to choice, certificates and budget.
Choose Agora if ...
... you need widths up to 320 cm, a particularly large colour range, a recycled version or the option to clean with diluted bleach - or if you want premium acrylic without paying for the brand name.
Choose Sunbrella Natte if ...
... the brand name is required (for instance by an architect's specification), Greenguard Gold is needed for low-emission interiors, or the structured natte look and made in France decide it.
Our tip when in doubt
Agora Panama is the direct, technically near-equivalent alternative to Sunbrella Natte in panama weave. Order samples of both qualities and compare structure and shade in your own light.
Both fabrics and alternatives in the shop
All fabrics are available by the metre and made to measure. Agora Panama is the direct panama alternative to Sunbrella Natte.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Agora Liso - data sheet in the shop
- Sunbrella Natte - data sheet in the shop
- Fabric overview (outdoor and indoor)
Last reviewed: 25.08.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team
Agora or Sunbrella - we help you choose
Order samples of both qualities or get personal advice. We have been making outdoor textiles from both fabrics for more than ten years and know where the difference shows in daily use.