As textile engineers, we understand that colour is more than aesthetics – it's a technical achievement. At FR-One, our in-house design team works together to create fabrics that combine design excellence with technical performance. One of our core strengths? The development of fabrics with exceptional colourfastness.
Creating textiles that maintain their colour integrity requires deep technical knowledge and rigorous testing. Our expertise in this field allows interior designers to specify bold colours with confidence, knowing the technical foundations are solid.
Beyond the Surface: Understanding Colourfastness
Colourfastness isn't just about preventing fading – it's about maintaining your design vision through each challenge a fabric might face. From daily wear to light exposure, from washing to cleaning, every interaction poses a risk to colour stability.
FR-One's commitment to colour integrity is backed by science, with each fabric undergoing five colourfastness tests at our ISO-certified Labotex facility:
1. Colourfastness to Rubbing (ISO 105-X12)
Worried about colours transferring or fading from use? Our fabrics undergo the "crock test," where they're mechanically rubbed with wet and dry cotton cloths. This simulates years of use, ensuring your design choices stay where they belong – on the fabric.
2. Light Fastness Testing (ISO 105-B02)
Light can be both a designer's friend and a fabric's enemy. Our light fastness testing places fabrics alongside eight reference samples in testing chambers. The results? Fabrics that maintain their vibrancy in sun-drenched spaces.
3. Colour Fastness to Water (ISO 105-E01)
Water exposure shouldn't mean colour exposure. Our water fastness testing subjects fabrics to moisture under pressure, ensuring colours stay put in humid environments or during cleaning.
4. Wash Durability (ISO 105-C06)
For spaces requiring cleaning, colour stability during washing is essential. Our washing fastness test simulates laundering conditions, with detergent and mechanical action, guaranteeing that colours remain vibrant wash after wash.
5. Dry Clean Compatibility (ISO 105-D01)
Professional cleaning shouldn't compromise design. Our dry-cleaning fastness test ensures colours remain stable through commercial cleaning processes. How does it work? The test fabric is washed and dry cleaned, and then measured in the warp and weft directions. Any difference in dimension is recorded. The fabric is then ironed with and without steam and measured in the warp and weft direction. Any difference in dimension is recorded. After washing and drying, the colour change of the fabric is evaluated using the grey scale (grade 1 to 5).
Embracing the Maximalist Movement
This testing regime isn't just about maintaining standards – it's about unleashing creativity. The maximalist design movement celebrates colour, pattern, and personality, and FR-One's colourfastness specifications make it possible to embrace this aesthetic with confidence.
Imagine creating:
- - Multi-coloured spaces that maintain their impact
- - Pattern combinations that stay true to their vision
- - Rooms with drapery that resists fading
- - High-traffic areas with colours that keep their intensity
Explore our full products collections and colour ranges online.
Quality That Empowers Design
Behind each FR-One fabric is a quality management process involving over 100 tests before market release. This means designers can focus on creating spaces without worrying about performance.
Our testing protocols often lead to multiple iterations with mills to achieve our standards. This commitment allows designers to specify our fabrics with confidence, knowing that the colours they select will maintain their integrity.
Beyond Colourfastness: Complete Performance
FR-One's fire-retardant fabrics transform commercial spaces worldwide. Our collections offer outstanding acoustic control, temperature regulation, and light filtering. They're also exceptionally durable, and washable at high temperatures. Made with GRS-certified recycled yarns and OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified for zero harmful chemicals, we deliver premium performance fabrics and expert support for any project, anywhere.
Learn more about us.
The Future is Bright (And Colourfast!)
As we see more expressive design choices in commercial and residential spaces, colour stability remains key. FR-One's colourfastness performance provides the foundation that allows creative visions to flourish.
Whether you're designing a hospitality space, corporate environment, or residential project, you can trust FR-One fabrics to maintain their impact through years of use. After all, good designs aren't just about making a statement – they're about making a statement that lasts.
Ready to explore how FR-One's colourfastness can enhance your next design project? Contact us to learn more about our fabrics and find the solution for your vision.
