A word on durability...

I am often asked for very durable fabric.  I am happy to oblige, but let's talk for a moment about what durability is, how it is measured, and what you really need.

Durability, a definition.  Durability refers to how resistant a fabric is to wear or damage.
Durability, how it is measured.  There are two main tests that are used in the industry.   The first is the Wyzenbeek, the second is the Martindale.
Durability, what you really need.  Not so fast...let's talk more about the last two.

There are many ways in which a fabric can be destroyed.  Anyone with a toddler or cat (this guy, both) knows that determination will overcome any protection.  You can have fabric abraded, pierced, melted, burned, stained, faded, dry-rotted... the list goes on.

The above listed tests both measure abrasion resistance.  In each test the fabric is rubbed (differently in each test) to determine when it starts to fail.  For the Wyzenbeek light-duty upholstery weight fabric is normally considered between 12,000-15,000 "double rubs".  Heavy-duty upholstery weight is 30,000-36,000 double rubs.  There is one company out there (name withheld to protect the beautiful but guilty) who labels fabrics over 9,000 double rubs heavy duty.  I suggest ignoring that designation.  Martindale is a different test, but don't worry about the numbers, your decorator can tell you, and if they can't e-mail me.

So, what does this mean?  How much durability do you require?  Let's say you and your spouse are in your 80's.  There is an occasional chair that you sit on once a day.  You rarely have guests, they always behave, and you have no pets.  Assuming you NEVER miss sitting in your chair you will put on 325.25 double rubs per year. On average you would expect that fabric with 12,000 double rubs to start wearing out shortly before your 117th birthday give or take a few years.

Now let's pretend you have a toddler...or worse a mastiff.  This mastiff HATES cars.  Every time a car drives by he (his name is Charlie) leaps on the couch and runs back and forth barking to wake the dead.  At 36,000 double rubs your couch is going to last...one week.

In all seriousness if you don't run a mass-transit terminal or hotel you don't need 100,000 double rubs.  But even if you do all you are rated for is abrasion resistance.

One last note.  There is a popular name brand soil and stain repellent.  You purchase it in cans and spray it on your items.  The life span of a treatment is in the neighborhood of 6 months.  Don't forget to re-treat or better yet, just never let your stuff get dirty.