Martindale, pilling and light fastness inform you about a fabric's durability. We use them to make it easy for you to see which is the right kind of furniture upholstery for you and your needs.
Look for Martindale
Besides color, design and style, there are a few more practical considerations you should be aware of. The first thing to note is Martindale which describes the durability of the fabric. A high Martindale rating means that the fabric has undergone abrasion testing and has endured a certain number of rubs to warrant its rating. All our fabrics are tested to the highest standards, with more than 20.000 Martindale.
Consider the lightfastness
If the perfect spot for your sofa has to be close to the window, you should choose a fabric with a lightfastness around 4-8. Lightfastness, or color fastness to light, describes the fabric’s resistance to sunlight and tells you how fast it tends to fade.
A note on pilling
Pilling describes the formation of small loose strands or balls of fibers on the surface of the fabric. Pilling can occur on upholstery fabric regardless of material, and has no bearing on fabric quality, functionality or durability. Pilling is easily removed and isn't considered a fabric defect or fault, it’s simply loose fibers that have a natural tendency to move to the surface of a piece of fabric, where they are subject to friction. Pilling will reduce once the excess fibers are removed, but to avoid excess lint choose a pilling value above 4.