About Us - Fabric Tent Wholesale

The Fabric Tent Story

Fabric Tent, Inc. was founded in 1977. Our initial product offering were casters and foam wholesale for the outdoor furniture industry. In the early 90’s, the company distributed indoor / outdoor prints and made the Sunbrella® fabrics available. In the late 90’s, our company introduced outdoor trims and jacquards.

Today, we are a leading producer and distributor with an offering of over 1000 patterns ranging from trims to jacquards. Our customers include manufacturers and refurbishes of furniture, fabric stores, recreational vehicles, watercraft and many accessory products.

Our Mission

After more than 30 years, the size and scope of our work has expanded dramatically, but our guiding business principle is still the same: To Provide the Absolute Best in Customer Service.

FAQS

Can I order online?

You must have an account with us to order. If you would like to establish an account, please fill out this form, call us at (800) 479-3692, or email us at [email protected].

Where can I find a particular color?

Please use our search, and just type the name of the color you are looking for. The search engine will return a list of pages that contain at least one swatch of that color.

Is Sunbrella® fabric waterproof?

Sunbrella® fabric is not waterproof; it is water repellent. This means that during the finishing process a water repellent finish is applied to the fabric. Normal wear and usage will reduce the effectiveness of this finish as will cleaning the fabric.

Will Sunbrella® fabric mildew?

Sunbrella® fabrics, if kept clean, will not mildew. An inherent characteristic of acrylic fiber is that it will not support the growth of mildew, as a natural fiber will. Mildew will and can grow on any surface that is dirty, so to keep your Sunbrella® fabric from mildewing you must keep your fabric clean.

How often do I need to thoroughly clean the fabric?

In most environments, a thorough cleaning will be needed every two to three years.

Do Sunbrella® fabrics provide UV protection?

Sunbrella® fabrics have been tested and proven to provide up to 98% UV protection from the harmful effects of the sun depending on depth of color. Whites and lighter colored fabrics provide less protection than darker fabrics, which have more depth of color. This protective factor is inherent to the product and will not be reduced by usage and/or fabric exposure to the sun.

Can images used on the Fabric Tent website be downloaded or copied for promotional purposes by another company?

Photography rights and the usage thereof are generally purchased for a specific amount of time when the images are originally produced. We maintain a file on the photography we have purchased and the timeframe in which it can be used. For this reason we request that no photography on the Fabric Tent website be copied or downloaded to another website or used in any promotional materials without explicit written permission from Fabric Tent.

How wide is the Sunbrella® fabric?

The specifications of the sunbrella fabrics are located at the Specifications page. The furniture grade sunbrella fabrics are 54″ wide. All patterns in the furniture section on our website are 54″ wide. The awning / marine grade sunbrella fabrics are 46″ wide. Most of the solids in the awning / marine grade sunbrella fabrics are available in 60″ widths which is located in the 60″ wide fabric section.

How are the fabrics sold?

All fabrics on our website are sold by the linear yard (i.e. width of the fabric x 36″) with a minimum order of one yard.

What is the difference between Awning / Marine and Furniture grade Sunbrella® fabrics?

Awning / Marine grade sunbrella fabrics are 9.25 ounces per square yard. These fabrics have a tighter weave and heavier finishing process then the furniture grade sunbrella. This process causes the fabric to be stiffer along, making it ideal for tops, canopies, and covers. These fabrics have a 5 year warranty against mildew and fade. The furniture grade sunbrella fabrics weight 8.00 oz per square yard. These fabrics are much softer making them ideal for cushions, drapes, upholstery, and shower curtains. These fabrics have a three year warranty against mildew and fade.

Can the Awning / Marine grade Sunbrella® be used for cushions?

Yes, however, there are three concerns. First, the awning / marine grade sunbrella is much stiffer then the furniture grade sunbrella, therefore the fabric will not fabricate as well for cushions as the furniture grade sunbrella. Second, mark-off appear as white scuff marks on the fabric and is caused when an object scapes across the fabric, distorting surface fibers. Third, crazing appears as thin white lines on the fabric and is caused by folding or creasing the fabric. Over time both crazing and mark-offs tend to diminish. The primary factor contributing to mark-off and crazing is a resin that is added to Sunbrella fabrics during final finishing in order to increase its stiffness. While increased stiffness from the resin adds greatly to the ease of sewing, it also increases the fabric’s susceptibility to mark-off and crazing creating a surface membrane on the fabric.

Are the Prints Sunbrella®?

No, all the prints in the “prints’ section of our website are screen printed with weather resistant and fade resistant dyes. Prints have a one year warranty against mildew and fade.

Can Prints be used for outdoor use?

Yes, all the prints (fabrics) on our website can be used for outdoor use unless otherwise indicated.

What are Mesh fabrics?

They are vinyl coated open weave fabrics. Most “mesh fabrics” are used for slings or for shades to reduce sunlight. The mesh fabrics on our website have a 78% shade factor.

Is the Sunbrella® waterproof?

Sunbrella fabrics are not waterproof, they are water repellant. This means that during the finishing process a water repellant finish is applied to the fabric. Normal wear and usage will reduce the effectiveness of this finish as will cleaning the fabric.

What fabrics do you recommend for slings?

We would recommend using the “mesh fabrics” for slings. They are ideal because they are open weave meaning water will go through fabric.