Glen Raven Custom Fabrics presents Sunbrella shade, sheer and velvet fabrics

Staff -- Casual Living, 2/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Glen Raven Custom Fabrics debuted Sunbrella shade, sheer and velvet fabrics during the winter Showtime fabric fair in High Point, N.C.

For diffused, filtered light, but not total sun blockage, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics created a new performance fabric, Sunbrella Shade, which allows water to flow through the fabric for fast drying and to prevent weight gain from water retention that can damage architectural structures. The Shadow pattern features a mockleno weave in which space is locked into the fabric, resulting in limited sun blocking while allowing water to pass through.

Shadow is available in 16 colors that correlate with Sunbrella solid awning and furniture fabric colors.

"Applications for Sunbrella Shade include awnings, market umbrellas, privacy screens and architectural embellishments on gazebos and other outdoor structures," said Gina Wicker, design director for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, maker of Sunbrella. "Sunbrella Shade fits between our new sheer fabrics and our Sunbrella awning and furniture fabrics in terms of sun blockage."

Sunbrella Sheer was created in response to increasing demands for performance fabrics for draperies and architectural embellishments. Initially available in Mist, a plain flat weave fabric, and Illusion, a textured sheer fabric, sheers take on the color of background elements.

"Sunbrella Sheers will also be ideal for architectural structures that call for a luxurious, romantic embellishment that is also easy to clean and fade resistant," Wicker said.

Sunbrella Velvet is a soft fabric woven with a plush pile face. Tough and resilient, the cut pile gives the color a deep richness as light is absorbed into the fiber. The use of 100% ring spun, two-ply Sunbrella yarns in the face, backing and filling gives the velvet a soft and pliable hand. Sunbrella Velvet will be initially available in seven colors — Deep Sea, Plum, Terracotta, Cocoa, Wheat, Antique Beige and Vellum. Additional colors are planned during 2006.

"Sunbrella Velvet takes our interior residential fabrics line to yet another level of luxury," Wicker said. "For the launch of Sunbrella Velvet, we focused on colors for a broad range of needs, from neutrals to fashion-forward. Because all of our fabrics are woven from the same family of yarns, Sunbrella Velvets offer coordination opportunities throughout our decorative fabrics line."