FABRICS USE IN HOTELS

Fabrics are used in a great Variety of ways throughout the establishment. They may be chosen
for their:
Decorative value,
Comfort,
Warmth or coolness,
Protective qualities,
Durability,
And for hygienic reasons.

As the purpose for which fabrics are chosen varies, so does the wear and tear put on them;
different fabrics may be subjected to:

Soiling,
Abrasion,
Snagging,
Creasing,
Fading.

In order to obtain optimum use, fabrics should be chosen only after careful consideration, with a
view to the purpose for which they are required.

In general fabrics are made by weaving yarn or threads spun from fibres which may be natural or
man-made. There are fabrics in which threads are knitted together, and others are produced
directly from fibres by fibre bonding or similar techniques, but textiles (woven fabrics) are used
most commonly.

The physical and chemical properties of the fibres will contribute to the nature of the fabric, eg
its:
Softness,
Durability,
Elasticity,
Luster,
Resistance to fading, soiling etc.

The properties of the fibres will also determine any treatment which may be given to the fabric
itself, eg dyeing, crease and shrink resistance etc.
Categorizing Fibres according to the Origin
Origin of Fibre Trade Name Uses in Hotels
Natural Fibres Vegetables Cotton/ Linen Bed and table linen
Soft furnishing,
upholstery
Wool Carpets, blankets,
Animal Soft furnishing,
upholstery
Silk Curtains, wall
covering (luxury)
Viscose rayon Viloft
Modified rayon Evlan, Sarrille,
Man-made Regenerated Soft furnishing,
Colvera
Fibrers carpets
Acetate rayon Dicel, Estron
Triacetate Tricel, Arnel
Polyamide Nylon, Enkalon, Bed linen, blankets,
Synthetic Celon carpets, Soft
furnishing,
Polyester Terylene, Dacron, Bed and table linen,
Trevira net curtains, fillings
for pillows and quilts
Acrylic Courtelle, Dralon, blankets, carpets,
Orlan upholstery, Soft
furnishing
Modacrylic Teklan, Dynel Soft furnishing,
blankets, carpets,
Polyvinyl Saran, Movil Deck chair coverings
Polyethylene Couelene, Polital upholstery
Glass fibre Fibreglass Curtains, fire
blankets

Characteristics of natural fibres

Vegetable fibres Animal fibres
Strong, with a crisp feel Soft
Absorbent Absorbent
Good conductors of heat Poor conductors of heat
Not resilient or elastic Resilient and have elasticity and so resist
Stronger wet than dry crushing
Affected by mildew if left in a damp Weaker wet than dry
condition Damaged by heat and disintegrate in
Mothproof sunlight
Not harmed by alkalis but lose strength in Damaged by alkalis and chlorine bleaches
contact with acids