Outdoor Performance Artistry
We take great pride in the relationship we have built with our Italian textile mill. Selected for their deep experience in natural fibers, our fabrics combine the expertise of weaving linen with the desirable performance characteristics of 100% acrylic. The remarkable softness is a result of the length of our partner mill's acrylic fibers, which are longer than our competitors. This provides greater flexibility and a softer hand, thus elevating our outdoor performance acrylics to closely resemble an artisanal linen, a supple velvet or even a fluffy bouclé.
Acrylic, A Brilliant Material
Similar to the way a broad spectrum sunscreen can protect our skin in daylight by physically deflecting the sun’s rays, acrylic, by its nature, has material properties that deflect UV rays from settling into itself. It takes many years for acrylic to be affected by UV rays and we perform rigorous independent testing to ensure that our fibers endure at perfect or near perfect levels for a prolonged period of time. As such, we guarantee our fabric for a period of six years.
COlor that lasts
Our fabric colors are created during the actual yarn production through a process called “solution dyed,” whereby the dye and acrylic are mixed together in a solution and then extruded into fiber. “Because the color chemistry is so inherently linked to our fibers, the photons from the sun's rays have a difficult time breaking down the color,” explains McKinnon and Harris fabric engineer Dylan Hahn. Whereas polyester and most dyed natural fibers (such as linen or cotton) will fade quite quickly with regular sunlight exposure, McKinnon and Harris acrylic fabric colors will endure through even the harshest weather conditions.
Fabric Weight
We have more than 130 different performance fabric offerings, all of which are suitable for indoor/outdoor upholstery and indoor/outdoor drapery. Dimensional fabrics such as Ocean Swell (55 ounces per yard) and Thicket (39 ounces per yard) are on the heavier side, whereas fabrics such as Duck Duck Goose (13 ounces per yard) work well for drapery.
protecting your fabric
Care needs to be taken with our acrylic fabric to ensure prolonged use. Residue on the fabric surface like soap, bleach, food, or pollen can soak into the fiber and become tarnished by the UV rays. It is important to regularly vacuum your fabric and keep it covered during the off-season, particularly if upholstered furniture is living in a sheltered location. Rain is our friend and can naturally help to rid the surface of acrylic fibers from contaminating materials.
