Increasing the lifespan of your textiles

Best choice: Polyester, acrylic, cotton and blends
Caution: Silk, linen, and viscose in lightweight constructions

Fabric stability is particularly critical for curtains and blinds and while a degree of tolerance is essential, because all fibres expand and contract as a result of atmospheric changes, some fibres are affected more than others.

Generally fabrics alter in length when they absorb or release moisture, and fibres that release a lot of moisture will ‘move’ more. Most natural fibres absorb moisture readily, which is why they are used for towels etc. Synthetic or man-made fibres have very poor absorption which can make them uncomfortable to wear, but in furnishings they ‘move’ less.

Other factors must also be taken into account such as location, for example: the proximity to the sea. As sea air is heavy with salt, being anhydrous (it absorbs water), when it adheres and settles amongst the fibres it will naturally attract moisture and cause additional weight.

Best choice: Cotton, linen, polyester, nylon, acrylic and wool

Though this applies mainly to upholstery fabrics, pilling and abrasion damage can also occur in drapery if there is constant rubbing against walls and frames. Different weaves greatly affect a fabric’s performance, such as the density of weave and the number of floating fibres, but if woven for an application where strength and abrasion resistance are the prime consideration, then cotton, linen, polyester, nylon, acrylic and wool can make durable upholstery fabrics. Many fabrics contain combinations of yarns in order to achieve the best performance; nylon produces a far more abrasion resistant fabric even when only 10% is blended with cotton or linen.

While the above are guidelines, understanding the properties of fibres will help in discerning their suitability in certain situations.

Abrasion ratings are used to assess upholstery fabrics, but understanding the ratings of tensile seam slippage and pilling is also critical. Quality suppliers with reputable brands and standards will only supply ‘fit for purpose’ products.

Read more about Seam Slippage and Pilling

Best choice: Polyester and acrylic
Caution: Cotton, wool, silk, viscose, and linen

In humid conditions, bacteria, fungi (mildew) and sometimes moth larvae can create unsightly problems and destroy textile fibres. Generally mildew thrives on natural and cellulose fibres such as cotton, silk, wool, linen and viscose.

While good air circulation and hanging curtains at least 10cm from the glass helps, selecting fibres such as polyester and acrylic, which are mildew resistant, is a better option. However, even this may not completely eliminate the problem.

While mildew will not grow on these fibres, it will grow on the dust or dirt which may become trapped between the fibres. Regular vacuuming and washing or dry cleaning will help prevent this but in extreme conditions, this is no guarantee.

High levels of humidity are the largest contributor to drapery movement.

TIPS

• In curtaining, unless the fabric is a sun filter or sheer, it should always be lined. An allowance must be given for a certain amount of movement as a result of atmospheric conditions.
• Considering all the different fibre characteristics, the blending of different fibres into yarns and the combining of different yarns into fabrics can overcome many of the disadvantages of specific fibres.

Read more about Linings

Best choice: Acrylic and polyester blends
Caution: Silk and wool

Conditions in the Southern Hemisphere can be so severe that virtually no fabric producer worldwide will guarantee their products at the window, with modern technology, beautiful fabrics which perform well long-term are being created. UV degradation is a prime consideration in curtaining and man-made fibres perform well resisting damaging rays. The most UV resilient fibre is acrylic, followed very closely by polyester. If fabrics made from these fibres do experience colour change, the problem will probably be the dye or cleaning process, not the fibre.

Of the natural fibres, cotton and linen have quite good UV resistance and again, any colour change here is usually the result of dye or cleaning. However, it is recommended that in Australasian conditions these fabrics are protected by a quality lining.

Silk is admired for its beauty and luxury, however it is sensitive to UV damage and even affected by reflected light. The addition of coated linings will help protect the fabric, although the exposed ‘leading edge’ of curtains will likely still deteriorate. Where possible, it will increase the life of silk curtains if they can be stacked beyond the window.

TIPS

• If your client insists on using delicate fabrics ensure they are fully aware of the ramifications of their choice by recording any ‘industry performance’ notations in your quotes.
• Leading edges of curtains (those facing the windows) are particularly vulnerable to sunlight degradation. To help minimise this effect, it is recommended that curtains be rotated periodically where possible, i.e. the left-hand curtain swapped into the right-hand position annually. A quality sun filter is also important where sunlight is directly reflecting on the fabric behind the glass.
• Rotate furniture cushions frequently to ensure sun degradation occurs evenly.
• Incorporate a synthetic ‘band’ in a contrast fabric down the leading edge to help to protect the curtains, this can also be a dramatic design feature.
• It is important to have a realistic understanding that all fabrics, regardless of dyestuffs used, will eventually fade/deteriorate under direct sunlight over time. James Dunlop Textiles utilise the best standard dyestuffs, and whilst no warranty can be made as to colourfastness because of our extreme UV conditions, they should perform sufficiently under normal conditions provided proper care is taken.

Read more about UV Protection

Fabrics manufactured from natural, undyed fibres may suffer from after bleaching, causing lightening or deepening in colour when exposed to natural light. As this is a natural phenomenon, allowance must be made for this unpreventable colour change reaction. Some yarns, such as silk, are susceptible to indirect UV rays and every precaution should be taken to protect the fabric by the use of a bumf or interlining as well as conventional lining. Even then, colour degradation may still occur over time.

A superior quality lining is always recommended for drapery applications. Depending on the situation, there are many different linings available such as coated linings for added insulation and protection, and three pass blackout linings where light control is a priority, such as in children’s bedrooms.

Curtains should be hung at least 10cm from the glass to allow air to circulate. This helps to prevent mildew and reduces heat build-up that will also adversely affect fabrics. Regular cleaning of windows is also beneficial as this removes mildew spores, which can accumulate and transfer onto curtains.

Depending on fibre content, there will always be some movement in curtain length (the longer the curtain, the greater the variation) due to temperature change and the absorption and release of atmospheric moisture from the yarn of the fabric. This is normal for heavy yarns such as cotton.

To maintain and preserve the lifespan of your furnishings, regular dusting and vacuuming should be undertaken, but frequent laundering is seldom required.

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This article has been taken from Woven, a 300-page comprehensive textile digest. Woven shares what we have learnt over the past 100 years, with the aim of ensuring the soft furnishing industry continues to thrive with expertise. 

This comprehensive digest is a must have for everyone in the textile industry, novice or experienced.

Contact your account manager, visit your local showroom or email [email protected] to purchase your copy.