The best outdoor cushion fabric

What should I check before choosing an outdoor fabric?

• Solution-dyed or not. In a solution-dyed fibre the colour pigment is mixed into the liquid polymer before the fibre is made, so the colour resists bleeding and fading from use and sunlight.
• Fibre content. Acrylic, olefin and polyester are different fibres; the table below gives the US Federal Trade Commission definitions.
• Water repellency. Ask how a water-repellent label was tested: the AATCC TM22 spray test measures a fabric’s resistance to wetting by water.
• Cleaning code. Code W or W/S means water-based cleaners are safe; code S means solvent-based cleaners only.
• A swatch in your own light. Order the fabric swatch kit before you decide.

What is the difference between solution-dyed and conventionally dyed fabric?

In solution dyeing the pigment becomes part of the fibre itself, while in traditional dyeing the yarn is made first and coloured afterwards. According to the outdoor-gear maker Mammut, this gives solution-dyed fibre superior colour fastness.

What are acrylic, olefin and polyester?

Which Foamera outdoor fabric lines can I choose?

Ask whether a line is solution-dyed before you order, because the mill data in the library does not say. Browse every line in the fabric library.

Does outdoor fabric keep water out completely?

A fabric test describes the fabric, not a sewn cushion: AATCC TM22 measures resistance to surface wetting, and AATCC TM127 measures resistance to water pushed through under pressure. The Water Repellent label in Foamera’s library comes from the mill’s product data and is not a certification. For how fabric and foam work together to keep a cushion dry, see water-resistant and water-repellent cushions explained and what is dry-fast foam.

How do I clean and store outdoor cushion covers?

Follow the fabric’s cleaning code, which is the maker’s recommendation for cleaning without harming the fabric’s texture, colour or life. See the care guide, how to clean outdoor cushions and how to store outdoor cushions for Foamera covers.

Which cushions can I order in outdoor fabric?

Every made-to-measure cushion lets you choose its fabric on the product page. Start with outdoor cushions, or go straight to the square patio cushions or the outdoor round cushions. For the foam, see the best foam for outdoor cushions; for wear and care, see how long outdoor cushions last.