Sep 05 2017

New Sunbrella® Fabrics Bring 'Makers' Artistry to the Industry

The Makers Collection Combines Traditional Handweaving with Modern Manufacturing

Representing innovation, precision and heritage, the new Sunbrella^® Makers Collection by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics is centered around the principles shared between time-honored handweaving and modern manufacturing, bringing the grit of traditional artisan techniques to the industry.

“There is an intimate connection between the skill required to create a textile and the final product,” said Greg Voorhis, design director for Glen Raven. “The Makers Collection tells a story of what lies beneath the product to connect consumers to the fabric, from the yarn to the finished piece.”

Fabrics in Makers incorporate the performance qualities of Sunbrella with authentic designs tied to generations of makers. The collection portrays the importance of preserving the conventional element of craft while advancing technologically. By combining new, experimental techniques with traditional style, the artisan fabrics are perfectly suited for both indoor and outdoor upholstery.

Exemplifying Sunbrella design innovation and technological advancements, jacquard pattern Adaption juxtaposes matte and shiny with PVC yarn. The pattern is reminiscent of hand-forged metal designs with a simple geometric pattern in tonal colors.

Midori is inspired by traditional Japanese Shibori dyeing. A process which involves folding, twisting or bunching fabric, binding it and then dyeing it, Shibori dyeing creates one-of-a-kind pieces, in which no pattern is the same. The Sunbrella design team recreated this look with modern weaving equipment, making the fabric look more primitive and handmade, while preserving Sunbrellla’s legendary performance.

A traditional menswear-inspired pattern, Paradigm pairs well with the contemporary patterns throughout the collection. Makers nurtures an inclusive community of makers, challenging them to create extraordinary spaces with the fabrics.

In addition to jacquard patterns, the collection adds new stripes and expands colorways for some of the company’s most trusted solids. A standout among the new stripe patterns is Artistry. Inspired by Mayan backstrap weaving, this fabric represents the custom woven pattern of vintage textiles. New texture, Blend, is made of a heavier yarn for a soft, textured hand in a wide range of colors.

“The Makers Collection is an example of how Sunbrella rises above just the performance benefits with the evolution of craftsmanship and improvements in age-old methods of production,” Voorhis said. “With evolving technology, we are able to imitate handmade processes yet still withstand Mother Nature at her worst. There is a community of craftspeople behind that.”

With dedication to the smallest details, the collection is rooted in a deep connection to a community of makers, like those on the Sunbrella design team. With a combined 145 years of experience in textile design, these makers live and breathe design. They collect inspiration from many different sources including travel, personal experiences, art and other forms of craft, weaving these inspirations into their textile designs.

The Makers Collection of Sunbrella fabrics is currently available to the manufacturing trade and will be at retail this fall. Like all Sunbrella fabrics, the textiles in Makers are easy to care for, fade proof and bleach cleanable. High-resolution images are available in the Sunbrella Press Room.

ABOUT SUNBRELLA FABRICS
Sunbrella has revolutionized the way the world thinks about how beautiful fabrics look, feel and perform. With an inspired palette of colors, styles and textures, premium Sunbrella fabric gives consumers, designers and architects the material they need to create the extraordinary in marine, shade, indoor upholstery, outdoor upholstery, commercial and contract applications.

Versatile in style and function, Sunbrella fabrics create welcoming spaces indoors and out, offering durability, fade resistance and ease of cleaning. They also offer peace of mind; Sunbrella fabrics have achieved GREENGUARD GOLD certification as contributing to healthy indoor air quality.

Introduced in 1961, Sunbrella fabrics are manufactured and marketed by Glen Raven, Inc., a 135-year-old family-owned company based in North Carolina with operations worldwide. For more information on Sunbrella, including inspiration, fabric collections and where to buy, visit sunbrella.com.