Fabric Grades

At LivingGreenFurniture, our fabrics are categorized into different "grades". These grades are used not to differentiate between good, better and best, but to identify the fabric's fiber content, weave type, width and stretch, pattern and other properties which determine how and for which styles they can best be applied. Some fabrics, for instance, just aren't suitable for furniture styles with narrow arms or straight corners, while other fabrics are so complex in their construction that their production cost is much higher.

All of our fabrics are of exceptional quality, but you should know that the fabric you select may, depending on its grade, affect the price of your furniture. The cost of fabrics in our first grade is included in the base price of the product before you begin customizing (draping). If you choose a fabric in any of the other grades, you will see the price of your furniture automatically updated on your screen as you select it.

Fabric Types

Our fabrics are spun or woven in a wide variety of offerings that include microfibers, chenilles, damasks, twills and others. A significant portion of our fabrics are blends of the fabrics listed below. A fabric’s content will appear when you hover over the fabric swatch on our website.

Fiber Content

It is nearly impossible to find a product that is 100% eco-friendly. Many facets of eco-friendly products are up for debate, and the fabrics used in eco-friendly upholstered and slipcovered furniture are no exception. At LivingGreenFurniture we offer natural or synthetic fabrics, as well as blends of both. We do this because there is an ongoing debate about which fabrics are truly more eco-friendly.

Natural fiber fabrics are perceived to be more eco-friendly because they are sustainable products, made from materials grown in nature. But some natural fabrics, such as cotton, use pesticides when they are grown, which harm the environment and the farmers that grow them. There are organic versions of natural products like cotton which may be more eco-friendly, but all cotton farming uses a lot of water – a precious resource. And a lot of consumers will still apply a chemical at home to make their organic cotton stain-resistant. Natural fabrics also often require more cleaning than synthetic fabrics, wasting water and introducing more detergents into the environment. And finally, a natural fabric may have a shorter life, so it will need to be replaced sooner than its synthetic counterpart, demanding more of the planet’s resources to make the replacement.

So, contrary to what seems to be common sense, there are some good arguments to support the eco-friendly qualities of man-made or synthetic fabrics. As we pointed out above, they tend to be more durable, so will not need to be replaced as soon or often as natural fiber fabrics. They are also usually more stain-resistant, so less water and cleaning agents are needed to maintain them.

At LivingGreenFurniture we leave the choice to you. We offer a wide variety of fabrics. Many of our fabrics are a blend of natural and synthetic fabrics, which generally provide the best properties of all of the fabrics used. We are also always searching for new and interesting eco-friendly fabrics for you.

Natural Fibers

Bamboo: This natural fabric is one of the most sustainable textile fabrics because the bamboo plant is one of the fastest growing in the world. This fabric has many unique properties. It is light, yet strong, and to some extent naturally antibacterial. It is often softer than the softest cotton and its surface has a natural sheen not too different from silk or cashmere.

Cotton: A natural fabric that is farmed throughout the world. Fabrics made from the cotton fiber provide good resistance to wear, fading and pilling. Cotton fabrics are prone to wrinkling and soiling. The weave of the fabric changes the look. Damask weaves tend to be formal whereas canvas weaves are more casual and durable.

Eco-Cotton: This is cotton grown without the use of pesticides.

Cotton Blends: We offer many fabrics blended with cotton to create more sturdy, family-friendly fabrics. Cotton may be blended with natural or synthetic fibers.

Hemp: A natural fabric that is soft yet strong and durable. It may wrinkle easily, but it resists fading. It is a bark fiber which means it does not require the use of pesticides and herbicides when it is grown.

Linen: This fabric provides a clean fresh look. Linen does not withstand heavy wear well so it is best used in areas that do not receive a lot of traffic or in formal areas. Linen soils and wrinkles easily, but resists pilling and fading.

Linen Blends: Like with other blends, you can enjoy the best properties of linen while its weaknesses are compensated by the fabric it has been blended with.

Ramie: Ramie is one of the oldest textile fabrics. It was used on mummy cloths in Egypt in the period 5000 – 3000 BC. Ramie is a very durable fabric and is more stain resistant than cotton. Ramie is an expensive fabric and is often used in blends.

Synthetic Fibers

Acetate: Developed as imitation silk, acetate resists mildew, pilling and shrinking. However, it offers only fair resistance to soiling, wearing, wrinkling, and fading in the sun, so NOT a good choice for furniture that will get tough, everyday use.

Acrylic: Developed as imitation wool, acrylic resists wear, wrinkling, soiling and fading. Pilling may occur with some acrylics in high-wear situations.

Microfiber: A term used to describe a very popular category of upholstery fabrics with a velvety, suede-like surface, Microfiber is made from ultra fine polyester fibers. These fabrics are durable, easy to clean and pleasant to the touch. They offer excellent value.

Nylon: Rarely used alone, nylon is usually blended with other fibers to create strong upholstery fabrics. Nylon is very resilient and does not easily soil or wrinkle, but does tend to fade and pill.

Olefin: A durable fabric choice for furniture that is likely to receive heavy wear. It is also stain, abrasion, and sunlight resistant. Olefin is also referred to as polypropylene.

Polypropylene: See Olefin.

Polyester: Wrinkle, abrasion, and fade resistant, polyester also resists water-borne stains. It is a very popular upholstery fabric that offers great value.

Rayon/Viscose: Known as Rayon in America and Viscose in Europe, this durable fabric was developed as an imitation silk, linen and cotton. Recent advances have made it a very practical choice for upholstery.

Cleanability Codes

(S)
Spot clean only with a water-free dry cleaning solvent. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding - do not saturate. Do not use water. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry-cleaned. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle of the affected area to prevent circling. Overall cleaning by a professional furniture cleaning service only is recommended.

(WS)
Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not saturate. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning is not a recommended cleaning method. Cushion casings should not be removed and laundered or dry-Cleaned. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle of affected area to prevent circling. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

(W)
Spot clean only with water based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Pretest a small, inconspicuous area before proceeding. Do not over wet. Do not use solvents to spot clean. Pile fabrics may require brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to restore appearance. Hot water extraction or steam cleaning is not a recommended cleaning method. Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered. To prevent overall soiling, frequent vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush to remove dust and grime is recommended. When cleaning a spill, blot immediately to remove spilled material. Clean spots or stains from the outside to the middle of the affected area to prevent circling. Use a professional furniture cleaning service when an overall soiled condition has been reached.

(X)
Clean only by vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic, stiff bristle brush. DO NOT USE ANY WATER OR SOLVENT BASED CLEANER.

Fabric Archive

As part of our commitment to our customers, we archive our fabrics at LivingGreenFurniture. This allows you to order additional furniture, replacement slipcovers, or a new cushion in the same fabric as your original order years later.