Two fabrics can look alike but differ widely in durability, fire performance and environmental impact. Here is what matters most.
Durability – Martindale
Abrasion resistance is measured in Martindale (standard EN ISO 12947). A machine rubs the fabric in a set pattern until threads break. The figure is the number of rubs the fabric withstands – the higher, the more durable.
| Use | Recommended Martindale |
|---|---|
| Light domestic use | 10,000–15,000 |
| Furniture in public spaces | at least 40,000 |
| Heavy-use furniture | 40,000–50,000 or more |
Martindale is not the whole story. A fabric can withstand many rubs and still pill or fade, so also look at:
- Pilling – whether small balls of fibre form on the surface. Rated on a scale of 1 to 5.
- Light fastness – how well the colour withstands sunlight. Rated on a scale of 1 to 8.
- Weight – given in grams per metre or square metre. Heavier fabric is often more robust.
Fire
Furniture in public spaces often has fire requirements. The most common test is EN 1021 parts 1 and 2 (smouldering cigarette and match flame). Which requirements apply depends on the building and its use. Wool is naturally flame-resistant.
Materials
- Wool – hard-wearing, naturally flame-resistant and stays looking good for a long time.
- Recycled wool – made from wool offcuts and used textiles. The fibre has far lower climate emissions than virgin wool: 0.1–0.9 kg CO₂e per kg, compared with 10–103 kg for virgin wool fibre. One example is Kvadrat Re-wool, woven with 45% recycled wool.
- Polyester – durable and affordable. Increasingly available as recycled.
- Cotton and linen – natural fibres with a more matt look. Often less durable on their own.
- Viscose – made from wood pulp. Often blended with wool for depth of colour.
Ecolabels
The labels cover different things. None of them guarantees everything.
- EU Ecolabel
- The official EU ecolabel. Requirements for chemicals, emissions to air and water, and quality.
- Nordic Swan Ecolabel
- The Nordic ecolabel. Requirements for chemicals, energy and resource use.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- The fabric is tested for harmful chemicals. No requirements for climate or production.
- GRS (Global Recycled Standard)
- Documents the share of recycled material throughout the supply chain.
- GOTS
- Standard for organic fibres, such as organic cotton.
- EPD
- An environmental product declaration stating the product's greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts. Documentation, not a label.
Fabric accounts for a large share of the climate emissions from reupholstery. See how much the fabric choice matters in the calculator.
Suppliers we use
Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik
- Weaving mill in Lillehammer since 1887, with all production under one roof.
- Uses as much Norwegian wool as is available.
- Several upholstery fabrics carry the EU Ecolabel, including Hallingdal 65 (70% wool, 30% viscose, 100,000 Martindale).
- Certified to ISO 14001 (environmental management).
Kvadrat
- Danish textile company with a wide range of upholstery fabrics.
- 59 products with the EU Ecolabel and environmental product declarations (EPDs) for 148 products.
- 61 fabrics with recycled content, including Re-wool (recycled wool) and Ame (100% recycled polyester).
Nevotex
- Nordic supplier of upholstery fabrics and upholstery supplies.
- Several collections made from 100% recycled material.
- Sealife is made from 100% recycled polyester, just over 20% of it plastic collected from seas and rivers (SEAQUAL).
- Labels used in the range: OEKO-TEX, EU Ecolabel and GRS.
You can also use your own fabric. We will help you assess whether it is suitable.