Australia’s climate allows for outdoor dining and relaxation for much of the year. Long sunny days, breezy afternoons and hot rainy nights call for the highest quality materials for outdoor furniture. Outdoor fabrics should be selected with particular care. Let us take you through the basics.
It’s crucial to ensure the fabric you choose for your outdoor furniture has the right content and characteristics to withstand the elements. With proper care and maintenance, high-quality outdoor fabric will maintain its appearance for years to come—offering the best possible return on your investment.
With this in mind, we’ve curated a collection of outdoor fabrics for our Cosh collections that not only complement our furniture beautifully, but also meet the highest standards of performance and durability.
Above:Â Outdoor fabric collection samples hanging in the Sydney showroom.
Cosh Offers the Best Outdoor Fabrics That Technology Has to Offer
We carefully source outdoor textiles from trusted international suppliers known for their innovation and quality. Designed to withstand the elements, our fabrics meet the highest standards for performance and durability.
Many of the fabrics we offer have a soft and smooth handle, offering comfort equal to indoor upholstery. Gone are the days of stiff, scratchy outdoor textiles. Our outdoor fabrics are engineered to replicate the plushness of interior materials. Your Cosh Design Consultant can guide you in selecting a fabric that suits your taste, space and lifestyle. Book a Consultation.Â
Above: Beautiful and resilient outdoor textiles by Tribu.
Materials to Look For
Solution Dyed Acrylic
Solution Dyed Acrylic is a man-made fibre where UV-stabilised colour is added during the fibre’s production. Unlike natural fibres dyed only on the surface, this colouration extends to the core—ensuring long-lasting vibrancy.
Acrylic can be recycled, and some of the fabrics we offer are made with a high percentage of recycled fibre. These fabrics bring a unique texture, often visible as subtle flecks that hint at their reclaimed origin.
Solution Dyed Polyolefin
Some of our most popular options are made from 100% Solution Dyed Polyolefin. Despite their natural appearance, these high-performance textiles are derived from a by-product of the petroleum refining process, with inherent colour extending through each fibre. The result: long-term resistance to fading and wear.Â
Above: The MBRACE seats are crafted using DEDON fibre, hand-woven over a durable aluminium frame. The base is made from premium teak, offering a warm, natural contrast to the Chestnut weave.
UV, Mildew & Wear Resistance
UV Resistance
Australia’s harsh sun requires outdoor fabrics with excellent UV protection. Our collection includes materials that have achieved the highest possible UV resistance, ensuring lasting colour even in bright, exposed conditions.
Mildew & Stain Resistance
The fibres used in our outdoor range are naturally resistant to mildew and staining. Combined with quick-dry foams, they form an ideal pairing for all-weather conditions.
Wear (Martindale Rating)
Wear resistance is assessed using the Martindale method—rubbing a fabric repeatedly until it shows wear. For upholstery, nothing under 10,000 is considered acceptable. Commercial environments, or heavily used residential areas like a favourite daybed, benefit from fabrics with high Martindale ratings.
Talk to your consultant about the expected use of your furniture. Every fabric varies in content and durability, and we’ll help you make the right selection.
Above: A selection of the Cosh Living 2020 collection fabrics and finishings.
Care, Maintenance & Support
All furnishings, indoor and especially outdoor, require regular care maintenance to perform at their best. No material is completely immune to fading over time, and though high-quality outdoor fabrics are extremely resilient, regular care will maximise their lifespan.
Regular cleaning will prevent the build-up of any dust, leaf and bird litter, and any resulting mildew, from settling into the weave of the fabric. Apart from keeping the fabric looking and feeling its best, this will reduce any extra friction when the furniture is in use.
A vacuum or a standard garden hose, is a great way to remove surface dust.
A mild, diluted detergent, and a soft cloth or soft brush may be used to remove any marks. Cushions should then be hosed down very thoroughly with a hose, and left to dry in open air.
If desired, removable covers can be cleaned by washing machine. In this case, they should be refitted while still damp, to allow for shaping across the cushions.
When removable, cushions should be stored in a dry covered space during rainy weather or off season, to maximise the life of the fabric & foams. Crucially, although the cushions are designed to get wet, they should not be left damp for a period of time.Â
Cosh offer a 3 year warranty against faulty workmanship, on cushions and fabric. This warranty excludes normal wear and tear or damage due to the neglect of care requirements. Cosh offer ongoing product support under all circumstances, upholding our excellent reputation for unsurpassed follow up care.
In need of an update? Whether thinking of a new look - or to refreshen tired fabrics, we can offer updated upholstery to many of our collections.
Above: Upholstery detail of the Tosca Daybed by TribuÂ
Easy Selection of Textures & Colours, To Create a Personalised Result
The palette selected for Cosh Living collections takes influence from the most recent international design trends, while also reflecting the Australian aesthetic, landscape and way of life.
A sophisticated result is simple to do, coordinating and layering textures and colours. We can point you toward our favourite options for the collection you like, and can also offer professional assistance, where a truly individual result is desired.
Feel welcome to bring images of your space along to the showrooms, to discuss colour and texture options to best suit your outdoor area.
We love to work with our local fabric partners, including well-known names such as Mokum/ James Dunlop, Unique Fabrics & Elliott Clark. These brands are constantly releasing new collections, colours and patterns - so there is a world of choice when it comes to customisation.
Fabrics Stocked Locally for Efficient Product & Delivery
Stocks of all fabrics in our curated outdoor collection, are kept on hand at the Cosh Factory in Melbourne. This allows us to offer excellent pricing, as well as very attractive lead times.
Let's see these fabrics then, shall we?
Click Here to download our Cosh Living Outdoor upholstery options 2025