Aucklanders face all sorts of weather on a daily basis. Dress for summer, get autumn. Dress for spring and you'll get winter. And in your home, it is even more important that you get your fabric choices right. You don't want your curtains rotting in five years time, do you? So you need to choose the right fabrics for your space. FYI: Linen, cotton, hemp and many other natural fibres will degrade overtime (usually within five years if they are in direct sunlight or subjected to insect ridden environments, those little guys love natural fibres).
If you're styling a sunny room, go for synthetic fabrics. They'll last a lifetime as they're hard wearing. Their colours are less prone to fading and they tend to mimic the exact look of natural fabrics such as silk and linen. If you love natural fabrics and can't fathom not using them in your space, then go for a wool blend. It'll be fire retardant, water resistant and a great sound absorber. This is due to the wool fibres being coated with lanolin, which surprisingly doesn't get removed during the processing of the wool. Wool is specifically suited for colder climates, as it will last a long time if it isn't in direct sunlight and has a high abrasion rating (rub rating): meaning it can be used, or rubbed against, multiple times without wearing down.
Natural fibres tend to be more expensive as they go through a lot more processing than synthetics. There are two types of natural fibres: Plant based (also called Cellulose) and animal based (also called Proteins). You'd be surprised by what each fabric is made of and the effort that goes into preparing them. When you read those little tags on your clothing next time, consider the origin of each fibre (e.g. 3% viscose will give your blended fabrics added lustre and softness).
You may already know some of the man-made synthetic fabric types as a lot of our clothing and furniture is now made of these. Polyester, Nylon, Vinyl, Acrylic, Polypropylene, Olefin (outdoor fabrics), Rayon, Ramie, Acetate, Viscose - are all either made from plastics, wood chips and/or wood pulp. These are cheap to produce, lightweight, hard wearing, mildew resistant and fade resistant. They don't shrink like natural fibres tend to, nor do they absorb water like natural fibres do, which gives them a more 'stable' and 'reliable' fabric reputation.
Always consider the following when choosing your next set of curtains or furniture:
- the lighting in the room (natural sunlight or florescent lighting).
- how much sunlight will directly damage the fabric
- what texture and feeling do you want
- how much are you willing to pay for your ideal fabric
- do you want your piece/s to last 5, 10 or 20+ years?