Why Choose Sunbrella® Fabrics?
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What Is Sunbrella?
Sunbrella is a well-established brand with a long history of innovation. It all began in 1961 when Glen Raven Inc. set out to create a durable, weather-resistant alternative to cotton for outdoor awnings. The result was a breakthrough product with improved shrink resistance, UV resistance and color retention. This material is called solution-dyed acrylic.
What Is Solution-Dyed Acrylic Fabric & Why Does It Matter?
Solution-dyed acrylic is a synthetic material in which the color saturates to the core of each fiber. The fabric's synthetic nature gives it a longer lifespan compared to natural fabrics that will degrade over time, like cotton. You never have to worry about UV rays, cleaning solutions (such as bleach), mold or mildew, or stains damaging the fabric. This gives you the freedom to use Sunbrella products indoors and out, rain or shine. These unbeatable qualities have earned them a reputation as a durable performance fabric.
In many respects, Sunbrella’s solution-dyed acrylic has changed the fabric game completely. This unique fiber is far superior to many other products on the market. It’s what sets Sunbrella apart from the crowd and makes them a key player in the performance textile market.
Another feature of Sunbrella fabrics is that each solution-dyed acrylic fiber is woven into a solid or a jacquard pattern. Some other brands have the pattern printed on the surface of the fabric, but not Sunbrella. Their jacquard patterns are woven into the fabric itself, so they won’t rub off or warp over time. This guarantees continuous vibrancy season after season. To learn more about this unique patterning technique and its benefits, read our blog on jacquard fabrics.
Sunbrella Warranty
Sunbrella offers one of the most comprehensive warranties in the industry. Some Sunbrella collections have a 5-year warranty and others boast a 10-year warranty. If you ever have any issues with your Sunbrella fabrics, let us know and we’ll work with you on your warranty claim.
Sunbrella & Sustainability: Their Eco-Friendly Promise
From their manufacturing facility to your home, Glen Raven is an environmentally conscious company. Their sustainable practices begin at their South Carolina plant, where they harness solar energy to lower their carbon emissions. This solar array generates enough energy to power 150 homes. But the environmental impact doesn't stop there! Sunbrella already diverts 90% of waste from landfills and aims to become a 0% waste-to-landfill company.
Sunbrella's unique coloring process conserves more water than traditional fabric dyeing methods. They’re also so well made that you won’t have to replace or throw them away as often as most fabrics, reducing your carbon footprint. The “Recycle My Sunbrella” program allows U.S. customers to mail in their old Sunbrella remnants. The company repurposes the scraps into other products, such as new Sunbrella fabrics. Their manufacturing facility makes it a point not to send any waste to landfills.
Inside your home, Sunbrella fabrics are GREENGUARD® Gold Certified. They meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards for healthy indoor air quality, promising low chemical and particle emissions. Why should you care? These low emissions make Sunbrella fabrics safe for use around children, pets and the elderly. The fabrics do not emit harsh toxins or carcinogens into the air. One more reason to love Sunbrella!
Sunbrella Fabric Collections
With their impressive collection of fabrics suited for just about any DIY, there’s a Sunbrella fabric for nearly every home, marine, auto/RV and outdoor project. You can cover your house, boat, RV, car, patio and more with high-quality Sunbrella fabrics. Below we’ll explain the various lines, styles and collections of Sunbrella and the best ways to use them.
Sunbrella Marine Grade: Sunbrella’s most popular product, Sunbrella Marine Grade is the industry-standard marine cover cloth. These fabrics are made of soft, breathable, 100% solution-dyed acrylic. This marine canvas is resistant to UV rays, water and mildew and will not shrink or stretch. Use this reversible performance fabric for boat covers, sail covers, biminis, dodgers, marine awnings, cockpit cushions and more.
Sunbrella SeaMark®: For protection against the harshest conditions in any marine environment, consider Sunbrella SeaMark. It’s a completely waterproof version of Sunbrella Marine Grade. SeaMark features a PVC backing on the underside that results in a colorfast, waterproof fabric laminate.
Sunbrella Awning & Shade: Sunbrella awning fabrics let you enjoy the outdoors while protecting you and your loved ones from the sun. These fabrics are incredibly UV resistant. In fact, they’ve earned the Skin Cancer Association seal of recommendation for their use in protection against sun-induced skin damage. Create a comfortable and protected outdoor oasis in your backyard with awnings, canopies and pergolas made from Sunbrella awning fabrics.
Sunbrella Upholstery: Built tough with the softness and suppleness you want in your home, Sunbrella upholstery fabrics are a fantastic choice for your next home décor project. Use these indoor/outdoor performance fabrics for upholstery, slipcovers, cushions, decorative accents and more. Create weather-resistant patio furniture, RV upholstery and interior boat cabin upholstery. The best part? These fabrics are easy to clean, as most messes bead off or can be cleaned with soap and water.
Other Solution-Dyed Acrylic Fabric Options
While Sunbrella is a household name, it’s not the only manufacturer of quality marine canvas, awning fabric and performance upholstery fabric. At Sailrite, we believe in offering our customers the best fabrics that meet their demands for performance, longevity, quality and price. Sattler® is another textile brand at the forefront of the global textile industry. Though Sattler is more popular in Europe as a quality awning fabric, the brand is making strides stateside.
Sattler marine and awning fabrics — along with Outdura, the company’s upholstery line — are solution-dyed acrylic fabrics that deliver unbeatable performance at a price friendly to the DIY community. If we don’t stock a Sunbrella fabric that meets your needs, consider our Sattler and Outdura offerings. Sailrite stocks the largest selection of Sattler and Outdura fabrics in the United States.
Click here to read our blog and learn more about Sattler fabrics.
Fabric Samples for Confident Ordering
We sell inexpensive samples of every fabric we stock. That way you can be confident in your fabric selection before ordering your full yardage. Samples let you feel the texture and thickness of a fabric. Plus, you can ensure it’s the exact color you’re looking for. Ordering fabric samples is easy. Locate the “Order Sample” button on any fabric product page.
If you have any questions or need help choosing the right fabric for your next DIY, our project specialists are always available by phone, email, or online chat.