Fabric for outdoor use requires certain characteristics, said Sara Balderi, executive design director at Designtex. For example, the fabrics should have a high lightfastness to withstand UV rays without fading, cracking or peeling. “Other technical requirements that we look for are things like bleach treatability [and] anti-mold/mildew,” she added.
Nanimarquina creates indoor and outdoor versions of its rugs and textiles for a cohesive look in different areas of a hotel. Often, the textiles for indoor use will be made of wool while the ones for the outdoors are made from PET fibres. Karen Hong, the company’s East Coast regional sales manager, advised moving outdoor furniture and rugs indoors during inclement weather to preserve their lifespan.
In contrast, some properties deliberately use outdoor textiles indoors, Balderi said, especially in areas with lots of direct sunlight. “Exposure to that natural light all day can be challenging for materials,” she said.
At BDNY in November, Dedon celebrated the 15th anniversary of its Seashell Collection with the Seashell Nuo chair by Jean-Marie Massaud. The team used Dedon's EcoCycle fiber for the chair, which is derived from sugarcane. Nicole Ciminera, the company’s head of marketing, said that the fiber is made with a sort of “sunscreen” to maintain its color in sunlight.
This article was originally published in the February/March edition of Hotel Management magazine. Subscribe here.