Hospitality spaces are defined as high-traffic environments, requiring fabrics that meet the specific standards for each area. Functional durability is crucial. By considering both the Martindale and pilling scores of a fabric, you can ensure its suitability.

Another aspect of durability is colour fastness, which refers to a fabric’s resistance to fading. Both light and rubbing fastness scores are essential to evaluate. High light fastness means that the colour will remain stable and vibrant for a longer period, even when exposed to UV radiation and visible light. In high-traffic areas subject to frequent friction or abrasion, a high rubbing fastness is needed to ensure colours don't transfer to other materials or fade significantly during normal use and handling.

In general, when evaluating durability, always assess the score within the context of its scoring system.

The ease of fabric maintenance is highly dependent on the material. Polyester and Trevira CS are particularly easy to maintain and can be vacuumed regularly without causing pilling if the fabric has a high pilling score. Wool, with its natural properties, is antistatic and water-repellent, meaning it attracts less dirt than other materials. This makes spills slower to penetrate the fabric. Wool fabrics can also be vacuumed regularly, depending on their pilling score.

Closely tied to durability and maintenance is the sustainability factor. Unfortunately, achieving high durability and easy maintenance can sometimes involve the use of harmful chemicals before, during, and after production, which can negatively impact both human health and the environment. We recommend avoiding these fabrics by choosing products that are certified by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and EU Ecolabel. These certifications ensure that fabrics have been rigorously tested for harmful substances and have a reduced environmental impact throughout their entire life cycle. Additionally, they help meet the increasingly strict regulations and requirements about sustainable practices.

To simplify fabric selection for different spaces and areas within an interior design project, working with fabric families is effective. A “fabric family” is a term defined by Gabriel. It refers to a group of fabrics designed to mix effortlessly, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic across a design project – without compromising on technical specifications or requirements.

This approach allows you to easily select complementary fabrics for different elements within the same room or throughout the entire interior design. For instance, if you choose a fabric for a chair's upholstery, you can seamlessly find a matching fabric for a panel that aligns in terms of material composition, durability, visual appeal, and colour palette. Our Focus and Loop families, for example, offer a versatile range of upholstery, screen, panel, and multi-functional fabrics, creating colour harmony through both contrasting and complementary combinations.