Textile Material & Quality Differences
Polyester
Polyester fibers include naturally occurring and synthetic components. These silky fibers are highly durable but lightweight and flexible, resistant to wrinkling and stretching, and maintain their shape well to allow for permanent pleats and patterns.
Polyester resists stains well and doesn't hold on to stains, making cleaning extremely easy.
This quick-drying fiber is ideal for indoor and outdoor textiles, and can be washed and dried without professional help.
We love polyester because it holds on well to colors and can be modified easily for various different uses including clothing, bedding and furniture. Polyester makes an excellent insulating material, and can be blended with a variety of other fibers to create a range of beautiful textiles.
Cotton
Cotton has been deemed "the fabric of our lives" and with good reason. This versatile fiber can be spun into towels, clothing, bed sheets and so much more. Cotton has a long history dating back thousands of years, when it was spun and dyed in similar way that it is today.
Cotton is naturally soft and breathable, and it doesn't retain odors, making it a perfect fiber for summer wear and bed sheets. It doesn't pill, so washable textiles made from cotton stay newer looking longer.
Cotton is easily blended with other materials such as linen to add even more strength to this already-robust fiber. We love cotton because it's wrinkle-resistant, lightweight and comfortable.
Percale
Percale isn't a fabric, but rather a type of close-knit weave that's perfect for bed sheets, blankets and towels. Percale weaves have a high thread count, utilizing a once-over/once-under method. This produces a strong and comfortable fabric with a matte finish.
We love sheets woven using a percale weave because they are crisp, strong and wash very well. Percale products can utilize a variety of thick or thin threads including cotton and cotton blends, and look beautiful after many washes.
Sateen
Just like percale, sateen sheets also utilize a special type of weave called "satin". Unlike the crisp feel that sets percale apart, bed sheets made using the satin weave have a distinctly silky feel and luminous sheen. This is created when the threads are woven using a four-over/once-under method. This leaves more fibers on top, giving your sheets a shiny appearance. The loose knit means sateen sheets are exceptionally soft, particularly when utilizing fine cottons.
If viewed closely, you'll notice a distinct diagonal pattern created by this weave.
We love sateen because it's a smooth, soft and durable fabric.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber with exceptionally soft qualities. It can be spun using a variety of methods to mimic other types of fibers, including expensive ones such as cashmere. Acrylic is warm but lightweight and is commonly utilized in clothing such as sweaters and scarves and home textiles like furniture or bedding.
Acrylic is washable and tends to be one of the more hypoallergenic options for allergy sufferers out there.
