Outdoor spotlight:
Why should indoors have all the fun?
Great outdoor spaces are built in winter.
Winter is the secret season of great outdoor design.
While the rest of the world hibernates, the spaces that stop people in their tracks next summer are being quietly drawn up, sampled, and specified right now.
Have high expectations for your outdoor space?
Here’s what to look for when style needs to work just as hard as it looks.
- Solution-Dyed ColourColour in the fibre, not on it. The difference shows after one Australian summer.
- LightfastnessThe measure of how well a fabric resists fading under UV exposure. Outdoors, look for a minimum of 1,000 hours.
- Rub CountCommercial outdoor needs 30,000+ double rubs minimum. The Designtex range starts at 75,000.
- Mould & Mildew ResistanceBuilt into the fibre. Not sprayed on.
- CleanabilityPoolside. Alfresco. High-traffic terraces. Bleach-cleanable is the benchmark.
- Weight & DrapePerformance and feel don’t have to be a trade-off.
Three worth knowing:
Convene
Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic. Geometric, layered, indoor/outdoor. Reads differently up close than at arm’s length — in the best way.
Racetrack + Emblem
Velvet-plush stripes meet raffia-style check. Fashion-industry yarn. The kind of fabric that earns a second glance.
Glamp
An outdoor velvet. Yes, really! Woven in Italy. 90,000 double rubs. Seven colourways. Pairs beautifully with Picnic’s elegant houndstooth and other outdoor fabrics like Hillside, Silicone element and Silicone Nappa.
Key Questions
When should I specify outdoor fabrics?
Now. Lead times on quality commercial fabrics mean winter is the right time to be selecting, sampling, and ordering for summer projects.
What environments suit Designtex outdoor fabrics?
Hospitality terraces, hotel pool decks, alfresco dining, resort furniture, marine environments, and any semi-exposed commercial space where performance and design must co-exist.
Can I get samples?
Yes! Sampling is available in colour card or A5 loose sample format. Contact your Hume Internationale representative to request yours today.
Want to go beyond Designtex?
Explore all the outdoor capable fabrics across every Hume brand here.
Winter is short.
Summer briefs are shorter