Why is it that some fabrics that look similar vary enormously in price?
So much goes into a fabric that this question is hard to answer in just a few
lines. Firstly, yarn qualities vary according to their composition and the way
they are spun. Yarns that are evenly (or at least consistently) spun, that have
no foreign fibres, that take dyestuffs the same way every time, are more expensive
to produce. Dyestuffs that resist sunlight and cleaning processes are very much
more expensive that the cheap ones on the market. Slow weaving fabrics like
jacquards and tapestries will inevitably cost more to produce. Heavy fabrics
that contain a lot of yarn will stand up to wear and tear better, as a rule
of thumb but more yarn adds to the cost.
The number of hands that the fabric goes through before you buy it will affect
the price. The less, the better, as every handler will add a margin. All fabrics
go from a mill, which produces in bulk, to warehouses that break down the huge
quantities into room-lots. From there they go to the retailer-manufacturer who
supplies the consumer with what they need and often makes up and installs the
finished products. But sometimes there can be three or four resellers (warehouses)
between the mill and the consumer. This is where things get out of hand. There
are steps you can take if you want the best value you can get. Firstly make
sure that the quality is in the fabric in the first place. All Hoad
fabrics are thoroughly tested for colourfastness, stability and durability.
All our samples show the results of these tests in detail for you to check.
You should always buy from a source that actually deals with the mill and not
through a series of middle-men. Over 90% of Hoad fabrics are
designed for us or by us and woven or printed to our specifications by our trusted
mills. This keeps the supply chain short and the margins realistic. It means
that often we see equal quality fabrics on the market at double and triple the
price we are charging. Indent "Wholesalers" buy from other wholesalers
overseas and inevitably are adding an extra margin so ask if stock is normally
carried locally by this supplier.
All curtains must by law, have cleaning instructions sewn into the hem. Generally
we would recommend having your curtains cleaned by a professional cleaner, simply
because they are bulky and difficult to handle domestically. However many Hoad
fabrics are suitable to be laundered at home. Every Hoad sample
has complete after-care instructions included. Cleaning your curtains will also
prolong their life. Water damage and exposure to sunlight can weaken yarns over
time. The effects of heat, tobacco smoke, moisture and some atmospheric pollutants
can cause permanent damage to curtains. Cleaning them will lessen these effects.
What is a good "rub test" result for an upholstery fabric?
There are five levels of performance in the Australian Standards for upholstery
depending on the end use you have in mind. The highest level is a Category 5
fabric and it needs to withstand 30,000 rubs (using a test called the Martindale
test) without breaking a thread. That is a very high standard and is usually
associated with fabrics being used commercially in theatres and so on. The next
level down is at 20,000 rubs and this is designated as heavy domestic use or
medium commercial. The mid level, Category 3, must tolerate 15,000 rubs. It
is medium domestic use or light commercial. If you are going to sit on this
fabric every day we would recommend at least a Category 3 fabric. Category 2
is for light domestic use and must reach 10,000 rubs. It is fine for dining
room chairs of furniture that isn't used every day. Finally Category 1 is for
decorative use where the furniture is for aesthetic appeal rather than normal
use. All Hoad upholstery fabrics will specify on the sample the standard you
can expect form them.
There are three categories for curtain quality, they are simply Categories
1, 2 and 3. Category 1:Basic performance - applies to fabrics
which are recognised as having a short life expectancy and which are liable
to change their characteristics in response to hanging or cleaning to a greater
degree than in Categories 2 and 3. You will not find any Hoad
fabrics in this low category. Category 2:Medium performance - Most people would
be happy with this level of performance from their curtains, but they will show
slightly less dimensional stability (may move up and down more) than the top
category. Some lovely fabrics such as silk will be in this category. It doesn't
mean that they are poor quality, just that they will need a little extra care. Category 3:High level of performance - This is the
top level. It is the level you will find most Hoad fabrics attain. The light
fastness is higher and the strength and stability are excellent. They are still
not indestructible, - for instance you need to protect them from too much sunlight
- however they are as good as you can commercially expect.
All Hoad samples have the Category clearly labelled to assist
you in making informed decisions.
These days many window treatments, such as Austrian blinds, festoons, Roman
blinds, and tied-back curtains are to coin a phrase, wide-open to fading.
It doesn't take only direct sunlight to do the damage, indirect light will take
a little longer, but will fade your curtains just as surely. There are substantial
benefits of using good quality linings on our drapes, but with the above changes
in the usage of fabrics, problems with fading have increased. Lighfastness is
how we measure the performance of products to fading. It is the resistance to
colour degradation of an object when it is exposed to light. Ultra-violet radiation
from the sun breaks down coloured compounds over time. All fabrics and dyestuffs
fade eventually, and we can measure this using an internationally accepted scale,
called the "Blue Wool Scale" (BWS). Each increment in the BWS indicates
an approximate doubling of the lighfastness of the fabric. Thus "6"
is twice as lightfast as "5" and four times as lightfast as "4",
etc. As a guide for furnishings used indoors, the accompanying chart shows the
BWS and the days of exposure associated with the scale. As soon as any fading
is apparent we note the BWS result; we do not wait until the colour degrades
completely. Score of 7 and 8 are virtually unknown is furnishings. You can get
them in some canvas awnings that are outdoors all the time and paints for cars
and outdoor use.
BWS Scale
Days Indoors
Comments
1
3.75
very poor
2
6
poor
3
19
fair
4
65
moderate
5
130
good
6
260
very good
7
520
excellent
8
1100
outstanding
There are external influences that will, and do, affect the reliability of
the scales, they are: 1. Exposure conditions: Smog, pollution, soiling, seaspray,
algae, fungus, moisture, and high temperatures will speed the fading process. 2. Colour concentration: Since colour degradation is a breakdown
of the pieces of chemical dyestuff, it follows that more pieces will take longer
to degrade. Surprisingly therefore low concentrations such as soft pinks and
apricots will degrade (fade) faster than strong colours like dark blues or dark
greens. 3. Cost of fabric: Naturally the better resistance to degradation
from light the more expensive the dyestuff. As dyestuffs are a high proportion
of the cost of fabric production, generally, the higher the BWS rating, the
more expensive the fabric.
Protection: Firstly, always use a good quality lining to protect the fabric
as much as possible. Next, be aware of the potential for fading; forewarned
is forearmed. We recommend that roller blinds or awnings be installed when soft
window treatments like swags and tie-back curtains are used. Finally, use a
good quality fabric, especially when using fancy window treatments. Ask about
the light-fastness of your chosen fabric. Suppliers should be able to give you
an idea of the rating. All Hoad fabrics are rated and the results
are on the samples. Or send us an email and we'll give you the
results. Expect to pay more for good lighfastness. Quality dyestuffs are a lot
more expensive than the poor ones.
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