The Top 6 Performance Fabrics That Can Withstand Anything
Author: Jen Worst | Editor: Omar Alonso
Review & Research: Jen Worst & Chris Miller
Good upholstery starts with high-quality fabric, which gets the most use and attention. Quality is critical when crafting furniture for outdoor use. More than matching an aesthetic, you want materials that can stand the test of time and the elements.
Dozens of options exist in the market, many boasting similar features across multiple price points. Here is an overview of the best performance fabric brands and manufacturers making waves in the industry.
The 6 Most Wear & Tear Resistant Fabrics
As you'll see, we're listing these in no particular order because many serve different purposes and have varying benefits.
1. Bella Dura Home
New Jersey-based Swavelle Group’s Bella Dura Home tops this list for quality that matches its name — it’s beautiful and durable. This performance fabric is completely at home in whatever conditions you put it in, both indoors and outdoors. Clients can work with the manufacturer to create custom colors and patterns that match any aesthetic and bring designs to life.
Bella Dura Home’s solution-dyed polyolefin and polyester fibers come in vibrant, fade-resistant colors that ensure they can withstand weather changes. They are also stain- and pill-resistant and are easy to clean. Despite being hardy, these fabrics maintain a soft feel.
The company is also committed to sustainability. Bella Dura Home textiles are PFAS-free, meaning they contain no harmful coatings that could affect people’s health and the environment. These fabrics also have a circular life cycle — they come from recycled materials and can also be recycled at the end of their life.
2. Sunbrella
Sunbrella rose to prominence due to its high-performance awning canvases, which lasted significantly longer than regular cotton. Since its inception in the 1960s, the brand has expanded its offerings through extensive research and development. Now, Sunbrella boasts over a thousand product variants across multiple indoor and outdoor applications.
True to its name, the brand has developed fabrics resistant to fading from sunlight and chemical exposure. Sunbrella has also engineered its fibers to resist mold and mildew, allowing products to last for years, even in changing weather conditions.
3. Revolution Performance Fabrics
Specialty Textiles Inc. established Revolution Performance Fabrics in 2014, making it one of the youngest brands on this list. It claims to have introduced the first PFC-chemical-free performance fabrics into the market, making its mark as a sustainable option for environmentally conscious customers.
The brand offers various fabric types and colors to accommodate different furniture applications and design sensibilities. Over the years, it has developed innovative designs and collaborated with notable interior designers, such as Cheryl Luckett. Revolution also readily offers fabric sample sets for homeowners, contractors and designers to find the perfect textile for their projects.
4. Ultrasuede
Ultrasuede has established a strong reputation as a reliable fabric brand that balances durability and performance with a luxury feel. The name comes from the fabric’s texture — the material consists of ultrafine polyester fibers spun into a nonwoven, high-performance textile that feels like suede.
However, despite feeling like suede, Ultrasuede fabrics are far from delicate and high-maintenance. They’re lightweight, durable, machine-washable and come in multiple weights, colors and finishes, making them easy to maintain and flexible enough for both indoor and outdoor use.
Like other performance fabric brands, Ultrasuede is also taking steps toward sustainability. It has developed a chemical recycling system and is sourcing raw materials from plant-based polymers.
5. InsideOut Performance Fabrics
As the name suggests, InsideOut Performance Fabrics can withstand indoor and outdoor conditions by design. Like other performance fabric brands, InsideOut products are stain-, mildew- and fade-resistant. They’re also easy to clean and maintain — you can use soap, disinfectant and bleach on these textiles.
Aside from its durability and ease of maintenance, InsideOut works with an innovative design team that experiments with different materials, textures and construction techniques to create unique textile art that you might not see often in other fabric manufacturers.
6. Crypton
Crypton specializes in durable indoor performance fabrics for commercial and residential use, guaranteeing odor, stain and moisture resistance while also being easy to clean. The company claims these capabilities last throughout the textile’s lifetime, making it an attractive choice for designers and homeowners.
The company also has notable sustainability initiatives. Crypton fabrics are PFAS-free — their stain and moisture resistance come from engineering and not harmful chemical coatings. The brand is also GREENGUARD Gold Certified, showcasing its compliance with chemical emission standards and commitment to creating healthier indoor environments.
Breakdown of the Best Performance Fabric Brands
| Brand Name | Fiber Composition | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bella Dura Home | Polyester & polyolefin |
|
| Sunbrella | Acrylic |
|
| Revolution Performance Fabrics | Olefin |
|
| Ultrasuede | Polyester |
|
| InsideOut Performance Fabrics | Polyester & olefin |
|
| Crypton | Polyester, polypropylene, treated cotton |
|
Methodology for Selecting the Best Performance Fabrics
Selecting a performance fabric brand often requires more than looking at its aesthetic qualities. Here are six criteria you can use to evaluate the suitability of a fabric for your project:
Fiber Composition
Due to their intended use, performance fabrics have more stringent performance demands. For this reason, they mostly comprise synthetic fibers specifically engineered for high-demand applications. Performance fabrics often use polyester, polyolefin and polyurethane to make them more durable and resistant to various stresses.
Resistance to the Elements
Designers and contractors buy performance fabrics for outdoor applications or high-stress spaces over your basic interior upholstery fabrics. These materials must withstand changing temperatures, weather, moisture levels and other conditions with minimal damage.
Mold & Mildew Resistance
Changing environments, especially moisture levels, can contribute to faster mold and mildew growth. Ordinary fabrics can easily fall victim to these conditions. Performance fabrics must not. A good material is moisture-resistant, which prevents microbes like mold and bacteria from growing on it.
Abrasion Resistance
People often use performance fabrics in high-traffic or high-stress areas prone to excess wear and tear, such as hotel lobbies or outdoor living areas. Abrasion resistance is crucial when picking a fabric to ensure it lasts long enough before it breaks down.
Cleanability
Spills and accidents can happen, especially outdoors or in crowded spaces. Performance fabrics should be easy to clean and maintain. They should also withstand repeated wiping, scrubbing or washing, even with soap or bleach for tougher stains.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a growing concern for many homeowners and businesses, and the fabric manufacturing process can be wasteful and ecologically harmful. Buying from an environmentally conscious brand is one way to support eco-friendly practices, ensure safety and minimize environmental harm.
Durable Textiles That Deliver
Choosing the right performance fabric goes beyond color and pattern — it’s about finding a textile that can meet daily wear, unpredictable weather and evolving design needs. A good material meets you where you are, offering reliability and flexibility with each weft and warp.
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Author: Jen Worst
Jen works professionally as a gardener and frontline counselor, engaging the youth in vocational work related to gardening. She displays this same passion at home, tending to the vegetable garden and flower beds, as well as to the interior decor and cleaning. Jen serves as reviewer and researcher for our editorial team and author in her areas of expertise. Learn more on Jen's author page and all about Worst Room here.
