Why is polyester such a widely used curtain fabric?
Updated
Polyester is widely used for curtains. At Speedy Blinds it is the fibre that can be pre trained, a factory step that sets a curtain into its folds, and pre training is for 100% polyester only. Resene says acrylic and polyester stand up to sunlight better than many other textiles. Natural fibres suit other looks.
Polyester is widely used for curtains. Polyester is widely used for curtains. Resene says acrylic and polyester stand up to sunlight better than many other textiles, and at Speedy Blinds 100% polyester is the only fibre that can be pre trained.
Pre training is for 100% polyester
Pre training is a factory step that sets an eligible curtain into its intended folds before it is packed. Speedy Blinds does it under controlled conditions, so the folds of a Wave Fold, S Fold or eligible pleated curtain have a head start when it is hung. It is available for 100% polyester and for no other composition. It is also excluded for some fabric types, such as voile, open weave and perforated fabrics, and for Pencil Pleat headings.
Only pre training needs 100% polyester. It is optional: your retailer requests it for an order and confirms the curtain and fabric are eligible before it is ordered.
Polyester and sunlight
Sunlight fades fabric over time, whatever it is made of. All fabrics gradually fade over time with UV exposure and environmental conditions. Resene's Habitat article on sun damage says acrylic and polyester stand up to sunlight better than many other textiles. It adds that visible light and heat, not only ultraviolet, play a part in fading furnishings, that colours with a lot of red in them tend to fade most, and that lined curtains resist fading better than unlined ones.
A lining faces the window and takes the sun in place of the face fabric, which helps the face fabric last.
Where natural fibres suit
Linen and other natural fibres are chosen for their look and texture. Linen has natural characteristics: creasing, fibre shedding, irregularities, and changes in length with humidity and temperature. These are characteristics of linen, not faults. High linen fabrics may be less durable than low linen blends and polyester, and a protective lining helps them last. Natural fibres such as linen and cotton can also shrink when washed, so check the care instructions first.
What to ask your retailer
If you're choosing between polyester and a natural fibre, ask your retailer for the composition and care information for the exact fabric, and ask to see a physical sample where you can. Ask whether pre training is available for the fabric and heading you want. The right fibre depends on the look you want, the room and the care you're happy to do.
Other ways people ask this
Can only polyester curtains be pre trained?
At Speedy Blinds, yes. Pre training is available for 100% polyester only, and not for every polyester fabric. Your retailer can check a specific fabric with Speedy Blinds.
Do polyester curtains fade in the sun?
All fabrics fade gradually over time. Resene says acrylic and polyester stand up to sunlight better than many other textiles, and that lined curtains resist fading better than unlined ones.
Do I need polyester for a pleated curtain?
No. Only pre training needs 100% polyester, and it is optional. Your retailer can tell you which headings are available for the fabric you pick.
Is a polyester and natural fibre blend an option?
Blends exist. Pre training is for 100% polyester only, so a blend can't be pre trained. Ask your retailer for the composition and care information for the exact fabric.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.