Upholstery fabrics compared – which fabric for which cushion?

The cover determines how long a cushion stays looking good, how easy it is to clean and whether it can be left outdoors. Lekoni® works with six fabrics: Panama and faux leather as the two standard fabrics for almost any application – plus four specialists for heavy-duty use, permanent outdoor use and mandatory fire protection requirements. This page compares all six on the basis of their tested values.

The short answer

The two standard fabrics – here it mainly comes down to personal taste:

• Textile surface, homely, machine washable → Panama
• Prefer faux leather to fabric, wipe-clean → Faux leather

The four specialists – here an additional, specific reason comes into play:

• Should stay textile but withstand considerably more → Mali
• Wipe-clean but should look like fabric – outdoors too → Textura Plus
• Stays outdoors permanently or is used commercially → Premium faux leather B2
• Fire classification B1 is a requirement → Premium faux leather B1

The six fabrics at a glance

All six fabrics compared

The colour figures are minimum values. You can see the current colour range directly on the relevant product page or in the configurator.

Technical data in detail

What the test values mean

Fabric data sheets are full of figures that rarely get explained. In brief:

Martindale and abrasion cycles

A test device rubs across the fabric at a defined pressure until threads break. The figure indicates how many cycles the fabric withstands. 20,000 rubs are ample for a chair pad in a private household. From 100,000 upwards we speak of contract quality – hospitality, waiting areas, hotels. Values above 400,000 are intended for surfaces used by many different people every day.

Lightfastness and UV resistance

A scale from 1 to 8 indicating how strongly a colour fades in sunlight – in everyday terms, its UV resistance. Rating 5 is sufficient for interiors and sheltered balconies; that is where Panama, Mali and faux leather sit. For spots in direct sunlight the value should be higher: premium faux leather B1 and B2 achieve rating 6 or better, while Textura Plus, at above 7, achieves the best value in the range.

Pilling

Rated from 1 to 5, this shows how quickly small bobbles form on the surface. Rating 5 means virtually no pilling. Panama is rated 4–5, Mali 5.

Rub fastness

Measures whether colour rubs off – assessed separately for dry and wet conditions, likewise from 1 to 5. Mali achieves rating 5 in both, faux leather rating 4, Panama 4–5 dry and 3–4 wet.

DIN 4102 B1 and B2

German fire classifications for building materials. B2 means normally flammable, B1 flame-retardant. Which class is required is usually determined by the building, not by personal preference.

The six fabrics in detail

Together, Panama and faux leather account for the majority of all orders. Both are suitable for the same applications – the difference lies in whether you prefer a textile or a smooth surface and whether the cover should be washed or wiped clean. The other four fabrics come into play when an additional requirement is added.

Panama – the homely classic

A yarn-dyed weave of 60% cotton and 40% polyester with approx. 240 g/m². Panama feels textile and soft and is available in more than 15 colours. The cover is machine washable at 30 °C.

At 20,000 Martindale rubs, Panama is designed for everyday domestic use, not for continuous commercial loads. Certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and tested for resistance to saliva and perspiration in accordance with DIN 53160-1,2 and LFGB § 64 – which also makes it suitable for children's rooms, nurseries and schools.

Suitable for: dining rooms, kitchens, living areas, children's rooms, window seats, seating nooks, rattan and wicker chairs, hotels, holiday flats and sheltered outdoor spots in dry weather.

Faux leather – the second standard choice

Faux leather is the option for anyone who does not want a textile surface. Smooth, pleasant to the touch and available in more than 15 colours – made from 2% PU, 80% PVC and 18% polyester, approx. 700 g/linear m and 100,000 abrasion cycles.

The cover is not washed but wiped down with a damp cloth. In everyday use that is the decisive difference compared with Panama: no wash cycle, no drying time, a cloth is all it takes. Lightfastness rating 5, rub fastness rating 4 both dry and wet, tear strength 25 N warp and 35 N weft.

Suitable for: dining rooms, kitchens, living areas, hallways, bathrooms, holiday flats, hospitality, waiting areas, practices, nurseries and schools, as well as balconies and covered seating areas.

Mali – velour for busy settings

A velour fabric made from 100% polyester with a soft, velvety surface and approx. 520 g/linear m. At 100,000 Martindale rubs, Mali is five times as abrasion-resistant as Panama – while remaining a textile material that feels pleasant to the touch. Breathable, available in more than 20 colours and washable at 30 °C.

Rub fastness rating 5 both dry and wet, pilling rating 5. REACH-compliant and tested for harmful substances. Additionally tested to BS 5852 Part I and EN 1021-1 (cigarette test for upholstered furniture) – making Mali the only textile fabric in the range with a fire test. Mali does not have a fire classification to DIN 4102; if B1 or B2 is required, you will need Textura Plus or one of the premium faux leathers.

Suitable for: family households, living areas, hospitality, hotels, waiting areas, seating nooks, conservatories and covered terraces.

Textura Plus – wipe-clean, but looks like fabric

A faux leather upholstery fabric with a textile texture: 2% PU, 79% PVC, 19% polyester, approx. 1.2 mm thick, approx. 700 g/m², width approx. 138/140 cm, 100,000 abrasion cycles. The surface looks woven but can simply be wiped down. Available in more than 10 colours.

With a lightfastness above 7, it is the most colour-stable fabric in the range. Phthalate-free, with an antibacterial and antifungal finish, resistant to salt water and chlorinated water. Fire classification B2 to DIN 4102, additionally tested to FMVSS 302, BS 5852 Part 1 and DIN EN 1021-1/2. It also holds an IMO certificate to Annex 1 Part 8 for seat cushions on ferries and cruise ships.

Care: use lukewarm water, pH-neutral soap and a soft brush. No abrasive or solvent-based cleaners.

Suitable for: hospitality, hotels, waiting areas, practices, spa areas, swimming pools, boats, terraces, outdoor dining.

Premium faux leather B2 – for permanent outdoor use

80.8% PVC and 19.2% polyester, approx. 1.20 mm thick, approx. 730 g/m², at least 400,000 Martindale rubs and more than 40 colours. Water column ≥ 1000 cm to DIN EN 20811, lightfastness rating ≥ 6, cold-resistant down to −29 °C, resistant to chlorinated and salt water.

Resistant to oil, blood, urine, perspiration and saliva, resistant to disinfectants, OEKO-TEX certified and with a Sanitized finish. Normally flammable to DIN 4102 B2, additionally tested to EN 1021-1/2.

Suitable for: terraces, garden benches, balconies, outdoor dining, hotels, saunas, swimming pools, boats, practices, waiting areas.

Premium faux leather B1 – when fire protection is mandatory

83.12% PVC and 16.88% polyester, approx. 1.20 mm thick, approx. 770 g/m², at least 800,000 Martindale rubs – the most hard-wearing fabric in the range. Flame-retardant to DIN 4102 B1, additionally tested to EN 1021-1/2.

It is also biocompatible to EN ISO 10993-5 and -10, phthalate-free, OEKO-TEX certified, with a Sanitized finish, lightfastness rating ≥ 6, cold-resistant down to −29 °C, resistant to chlorinated and salt water and resistant to oil, blood, urine, perspiration and saliva.

And one point that often comes as a surprise in contract projects: premium faux leather B1 is available in more than 40 colours. Flame-retardant material does not mean having to choose between three shades of grey.

Suitable for: care homes, clinics, medical practices, public institutions, assembly venues, hotels, hospitality and contract interiors.

Indoors, sheltered outdoors or genuinely outdoor?

"Suitable for outdoor use" is not a protected term. At Lekoni® we distinguish between three levels:

• Indoors – all six fabrics.
• Sheltered outdoor areas – covered or shielded from wind, with the cushion brought inside when it rains: again, all six fabrics. For Panama, Mali and faux leather, this is the upper limit.
• Regular outdoor use – terraces, gardens, outdoor dining, with the cushion staying outside: Textura Plus, premium faux leather B2 or B1.

One point we prefer to make in advance: even the outdoor materials do not make a finished cushion waterproof. The cover is removable and has a zip – standing moisture can penetrate there. The fabric is water-repellent; the construction is not. In prolonged rain, snow or during longer periods of non-use, cushions should be stored somewhere protected.

Do I need B1, or is B2 enough?

This question arises almost exclusively with commercial and public-sector orders – and it is not decided by taste but by the building regulations or the building's fire protection concept.

How to tell that B1 is required

In tenders, specifications and fire protection concepts the requirement is usually stated verbatim: "flame-retardant", "DIN 4102-1", "building material class B1" or "B1 certificate required". As soon as one of these terms appears, you need premium faux leather B1. Premium faux leather B2 is expressly not flame-retardant but normally flammable – it does not meet this requirement, however hard-wearing it may be.

B1 is typically required in clinics, care homes, medical practices, assembly venues, schools, nurseries, public authorities and other public buildings. The requirement is usually set by the fire safety officer, the architect or the building authority – not by the purchasing department.

When B2 is sufficient

B2, normally flammable, covers everything where no specific requirement applies – in other words, the majority of hospitality, hotel, holiday-let and private applications. Both Textura Plus and premium faux leather B2 meet this. For most hard-wearing outdoor, hospitality, sauna, pool, boat and contract applications without an explicit B1 requirement, premium faux leather B2 is the appropriate and more economical choice.

The certificate for your records

The test certificate for fire behaviour is available as a PDF download on the relevant product page – so you can check it before ordering and add it straight to your project documentation. For building acceptance, the fire safety officer or the project documentation, this is usually exactly the point at which the decision is made.

If in doubt, check with the facility or the fire safety officer before ordering. A B1 cushion is more expensive, but a requirement cannot be remedied after the event.

The core: RG 35 / SH 5.0 foam

Regardless of the cover, Lekoni® uses the same foam for all cushions: density 35, compression hardness 5.0.

The density indicates how much material there is per cubic metre – it determines service life, not firmness. RG 35 is considerably more dimensionally stable than the foam in many off-the-shelf cushions, which are flattened after a single season. The compression hardness of 5.0 describes the firmness: firm enough to provide support, soft enough to sit on comfortably.

Care at a glance

• Machine washable at 30 °C: Panama, Mali
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth: faux leather, premium faux leather B2, premium faux leather B1
• Soapy water and a soft brush: Textura Plus

All covers are removable and finished with a zip. Detailed instructions can be found under Care instructions and washing guidelines.

Frequently asked questions about Lekoni® fabrics

Which fabric lasts the longest?

Measured by abrasion resistance, premium faux leather B1 with at least 800,000 Martindale rubs, followed by premium faux leather B2 with at least 400,000. Among the textile fabrics, Mali is the most hard-wearing at 100,000. For a normal household, however, these values are well above what is needed – there, care matters more than the abrasion figure.

What is the difference between Panama and faux leather?

Primarily the surface and the cleaning. Panama is a textile fabric that you wash at 30 °C; faux leather is smooth and is wiped clean with a damp cloth. The same applications apply to both: dining rooms, kitchens, living areas, holiday flats, hospitality and sheltered outdoor spots. Faux leather is additionally more abrasion-resistant, while Panama is textile and breathable. Which of the two suits you is primarily a matter of taste.

Which fabric is suitable for families with small children?

If stains are the main concern: faux leather, because it can be wiped clean immediately. If it should stay homely: Panama, because the cover can go in the washing machine and is certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and tested for resistance to saliva and perspiration.

Does the colour fade in the sun?

Every fabric fades over time. Panama, Mali and faux leather have a lightfastness rating of 5, which is sufficient for interiors and sheltered spots. For areas in direct sunlight, the outdoor materials are the right choice: premium faux leather B1 and B2 with a rating of ≥ 6, and Textura Plus with a value above 7 – the best in the range.

Which fabric is suitable for care facilities and medical practices?

Premium faux leather B1 and B2 are resistant to disinfectants and to oil, blood, urine, perspiration and saliva. B1 is also biocompatible to EN ISO 10993-5 and -10 and flame-retardant to DIN 4102 B1 – usually the mandatory choice in clinics and care homes. The test certificate is available as a PDF on the product page.

Is there a fabric for boats and swimming pools?

Textura Plus is resistant to salt water and chlorinated water and holds an IMO certificate to Annex 1 Part 8 for seat cushions on ferries and cruise ships. Premium faux leather B2 and B1 are likewise resistant to chlorinated and salt water.

Can I order different products in the same fabric?

Yes. For made-to-measure items, all six fabrics are available – seat cushions, chair pads, bench cushions, lounge cushions, cushion covers, replacement covers and table linen can all be produced in the same fabric and colour. For individual standard items such as standard chair pads, tie-on cushions and table runners the selection is smaller; via the made-to-measure service, however, every fabric is possible there too.

Can I also buy the fabrics by the metre?

Panama and faux leather are additionally available as fabric by the metre for your own sewing and upholstery projects.

Have the fabrics been tested for harmful substances?

Panama, premium faux leather B2 and premium faux leather B1 are OEKO-TEX certified. Mali is REACH-compliant and tested for harmful substances. Textura Plus and both premium faux leathers are phthalate-free.

What if I can't decide?

Colour and feel can only be judged to a limited extent on screen. Our sample cards let you check both at home in advance.