Glossary

1.    Outdoor Polyester Fabric - Water-Repellent

1.1.    What kind of fabric/material is polyester?

Polyester is a synthetic (micro) textile fiber (also called an artificial fiber) and is made from materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fleece, or polycarbonate. The fibers are lightweight but at the same time very durable. Polyester was originally intended and produced as a strengthening material for cotton fabric and is the most frequently used fabric in the textile industry. All our polyester fabrics are certified according to the Öko Tex Standard 100.

1.2.    Is polyester a good material for seat cushions?

Polyester is particularly suitable for allergy sufferers, as pollen cannot penetrate and settle in the fabric. In addition, polyester does not provide a breeding ground for mites. Our polyester outdoor fabric has been specially developed for outdoor use. The various coatings on the fabric make it water and dirt-repellent, so you can confidently use our polyester seat cushions in your garden, on your terrace or on your balcony.

1.3.    Which is better: cotton or polyester?

When considering cotton or polyester, it's important to know the advantages of each material. Cotton is a natural material derived from plants, which is soft and comfortable on the skin. However, to maintain the quality of this fabric, it must be cared for regularly. Cotton is not UV-resistant and would turn to dust in the blazing sun after a certain period of time.

On the other hand, polyester is the ideal choice for outdoor cushions, as its synthetic fibers are incredibly resilient and do not absorb moisture; besides, you don't have to worry about the colors fading or shrinking when washing.

All in all, it can be said that cotton is a natural fiber and is preferred for its softness and pleasant texture. Polyester, on the other hand, is easy to handle and has a special durability.

1.4.    What is bad about polyester?

Actually, nothing at all! Polyester is more than just another artificial fiber. This amazing material is far from being viewed with skepticism and prejudice. It can be used in many ways and now makes up a large part of textiles. Nobody should hesitate to try polyester - all the advantages can be found further in the text.

1.5.    Is polyester fabric waterproof?

No, polyester is naturally water-resistant or water-repellent, but not completely waterproof. However, the polyester yarns can be coated with vinyl or PVC before weaving, which gives this fabric waterproof properties. More on this topic can be found under point 2.

1.6.    Which fabric for rain?

If you don't want to always have to think about whether your garden furniture cushions are getting wet or not, you can have cushions made from the waterproof polyester fabric. All properties of this fabric can also be found here under point 2.

1.7.    Advantages of Polyester

1.8.    Does polyester bleach in the sun?

In general, every fabric bleaches or changes its color after a certain time in the sun. This cannot be completely avoided. The quality of the fabric then determines how much this change is over a certain period of time. In the textile industry, there is a light fastness scale from 1 (very low) to 8 (excellent). Our polyester fabrics all have a light fastness value of 6-7 out of 8. More on this topic can be found in our article "What is Light Fastness?".

1.9.    Care

In order to maintain a long lifespan for the fabric or the cushion, the correct care is extremely important. Everything you need to know about this, we have summarized in the following article: Care Instructions for Water-Resistant Polyester.

To the products: Lounge Cushions Polyester 

2.    Outdoor Polyester Fabric - Waterproof

2.1.    What is the difference: Waterproof and water-repellent

All our polyester fabrics are water-repellent and perfectly designed for outdoor use. Thanks to the integrated protective layer, the fabric is dirt and water-repellent. As a result, you no longer have to worry about stains or small rain showers.

With the help of lamination, we can also obtain this fabric in a completely waterproof form, so that water only stays on the surface but does not penetrate into the cushion and wet the foam.

2.2.    Hydrostatic Head

Waterproof fabrics should be chosen for heavy use - e.g. if the fabric has to withstand a sudden, heavy rain shower. But here too, it is important to note that the height of the hydrostatic head, as well as the water pressure, are decisive for when rain can penetrate through the coating and the fabric.

The hydrostatic head = unit of measurement for indicating pressure. It is the reference for the water permeability of the material. The value is given in millimeters, for example, 10,000 millimeters of hydrostatic head, in short: 10,000 mm HH. The higher the value, the denser the material.

The waterproof polyester fabric we use has a hydrostatic head of > 10,000 mm

2.3.    What properties does the waterproof polyester fabric have?

The fabric consists of 90% polyester and 10% polyethylene - so there is a lamination on the back of the fabric, through which no water can penetrate. All the advantages of this fabric can be found under point 1.7. because apart from the lamination, the polyester fabric is identical.

2.4.    Is a cushion with this fabric breathable?

The breathability of the fabric is somewhat limited. However, we incorporate air vents into the upholstery or cover, so that the air can escape when you sit on it. These air openings are covered with a fabric fold, so that the cushion looks nice and no water penetrates.

2.5    Care

In order to maintain a long lifespan for the fabric or the cushion, the correct care is extremely important. Everything you need to know about this, we have summarized in the following article: Care Instructions for Waterproof Polyester.

To the products: Weatherproof Cushion Covers 

3.    Chlorine Test

In order to be able to give our customers a good answer with a clear conscience, we carried out an in-house chlorine test. The fabric samples that we rubbed with a chlorine mixture (water and chlorine) and left to work overnight showed no stains. Although we do not recommend cleaning the fabrics with chlorine - if some water from the pool drips onto your lounge cushions, this will not be a problem.

If you need more information on the topic of waterproof, water-repellent or waterproof, you can read more about it in the following article: "What is the difference between waterproof, water-repellent or waterproof?"