Agua Fabrics showcase technical fabrics that look and perform the part

When it comes to upholstery – whether sofas, benches or armchairs – fabric is everything. It must look the part, with the right texture and handle, but it also needs to perform. This is especially true in a commercial setting, which is why we won’t release a product unless it ticks a number of stringent boxes. Every brand has a different take on what makes a fabric ‘technical’, but at Agua we keep things simple. Each of our faux leathers, velvets and soft fabrics have a number of technical performance qualities that ensure they perform as well as they look.

What is a technical fabric, though? It’s essentially a fabric that has some level of performance, whether in the form of waterproofness, stain resistance or fire retardancy. Like with technical performance clothing, which is often water-resistant or especially lightweight and breathable, technical upholstery fabrics do more than just look good. They are known for their ability to withstand high volumes of daily wear and tear over the long term, whether with the unique demands of a hospital floor or avoiding cocktail spills in a hotel lobby. There are, of course, different levels to technical fabrics. Some might only be fire retardant, while others might also be waterproof, stain resistant and Martindale rated.

When it comes to these properties for our own fabrics, we don’t do things by halves. All of our fabrics are designed for Severe Contract use – rating at least 50,000 on the Martindale abrasion scale, with some fabrics rating as high as 400,000 rubs. In layman’s terms, this means all our fabrics will endure several years of hard wear, without degrading or losing their colour, texture and lustre. Moreover, we don’t believe in sacrificing looks for practicality. Yes, all our fabrics are high performing, but they’re good looking too – combining premium finishes with super-soft hand-feels and lustrous piles. Our velvets and cords, for example, need to be felt in the flesh to be believed.

Another key technical quality is fire retardancy. As standard, all of our fabrics are fire retardant to level crib 5, which is the UK legal requirement for contract use. This makes everything from our Fleck faux leathers through to our Primeira velvets highly resistant to combustion, so you can order with confidence. Aside from that, each of our creations come with a number of other technical qualities. Each is waterproof, anti-microbial and stain resistant, so for commercial use in a highly populated public place, this makes them particularly useful.

A common misconception is that technical fabrics must sacrifice aesthetics in order to perform. This is something we’re always looking to counter, and it’s why we place so much importance in the way our fabrics look and feel. Take one of our newest creations, Dales, as an example. Made with 90% natural wool, Dales has a textured finish, which gives it a particularly luxurious look and feel. Handle it yourself and you’ll instantly notice it’s softer and more opulent than many synthetic alternatives. Yet it still packs some serious performance qualities, and is fire retardant to Crib 5 unlike many other natural fabrics on the market.

The Dales collection sums up what Agua is all about. Not only do our products perform to the highest level; they can also help transform a space with their unique textures, rich colours and intricate weaves, balancing both technicality and style. Moreover, all our fabrics are phthalate free. We have a long-standing POP declaration, which confirms that all our fabrics comply with REACH legislation and contain no persistent organic pollutants. Indeed, we prove that technical fabrics can look and feel good while also offering – and far exceeding – the performance and sustainability qualities required for the contract market.