What is bouclé material?

Bouclé fabric is a luxurious option for upholstery projects thanks to its bumpy yet soft textured surface, which looks fantastic on sofas and chairs. Today we dive into its insanely stylish world with some history and highlights from our own collections of stain-resistant bouclé fabric.

What are bouclé fabrics made of?

The word “bouclé” means “curly” in French, which describes this fabric perfectly: it has a lovely, enveloping, almost woolly-feeling texture.

Bouclé fabrics are made from yarn that's been bound into loops before weaving it into fabric, giving it an incredibly tactile surface that just begs to be touched. Like ‘chenille’ fabric, bouclé can refer to a yarn construction, or the fabric made from it.

How did the start of bouclé fabric begin?

In the late 1940s, architecture and design dynamo Florence Knoll requested that Eero Saarinen design a chair that “a chair that was like a basket full of pillows - something she could really curl up in.” Saarinen, an industrial designer known for using modern materials in graceful, organic shapes, interpreted her request literally – even down to the fibres used to upholster the chair.

The result was Saarinen’s Womb Chair, which was introduced in 1948, resplendent in Knoll’s Classic Bouclé, a nubby textile made from a yarn of, fittingly, fibres that really curled up.

It's soft, warm and feels smooth to the touch. Bouclé yarns and FibreGuard fabrics are also very durable. A match made in heaven!

Bouclé fabric textures and colours

Bouclé fabrics come in many different colours and styles, including shiny bouclé (the most popular), matte bouclé, shaggy-looking bouclé with a nubby texture and more smooth-textured versions without as much of a bumpy surface to them.

Bouclé fabric is a popular choice for upholstery because of its soft, textured feel. Its enduring popularity is probably down to the fact that it’s so versatile: bouclé yarns come in many different weights, so you can find one that works well with your project.

Finally, bouclé fabric is often used in home decor projects because the lustre and shine of this weave make it look elegant but still approachable.

What is the durability of bouclé fabric?

Bouclé fabrics come in many different colours and styles, from subtle, sophisticated shades like cream and grey, to bolder colour combinations like yellow on green. It's no wonder why this trend is so popular among designers today.

“We are living in a time when comfort and safety are the utmost importance,” says the designer behind Tina Ramchandani Creative. “With very real issues concerning the environment and political climate, days are hectic. So creating a safe and cozy space at home that encourages well-being is essential.” – Architectural Digest

If it's roughly treated, the natural texture of any bouclé fabric (with its looped yarns) can potentially be more prone to snagging than a flat weave. This is why our fabrics are so carefully developed, designed to significantly mitigate general wear and tear.

Key durability features of bouclé fabric

Bouclé fabric furniture is more durable than you think. The lifespan of bouclé fabric varies widely, but according to Swyft Home, high-quality upholstery bouclé can last for many years, often 5 to 10 years or more, especially when made with modern, high-performance fibers.

The key to a bouclé sofa's longevity lies in how the fabric is made and what it is made from.

1. Types of fibres: Bouclé made from 100% natural fibres don't stand up to wear, pilling, and staining compared to modern synthetic blends.
2. The texture: The fabric's characteristic looped/nubby texture can be prone to snagging if caught by sharp objects like jewelry, toys, or, most commonly, pet claws. A major snag could pull a loop and damage the weave. Check out why our fabrics are pet-friendly and how they can stand up to snagging.
3. Pilling Resistance: Constant, concentrated friction (like a person always sitting in the exact same spot, or fabric rubbing against a wall/hard surface) will wear down the loops and lead to localised 'pilling' or threadbare patches. Learn about our pilling and brush pilling tests.
4. Washability: Scrubbing a stain, using abrasive brushes, or applying harsh chemicals can break the delicate looped yarns, cause pilling, or ruin any protective finish. Always blot, never rub.

To sum up, choose a high-spec, performance products like FibreGuard, because our bouclé fabrics are truly long-lasting. Then practice gentle, proactive care to protect its unique texture from snags and deep stains. Learn about how to clean FibreGuard fabrics (even bouclé!).

Art, design, visual culture…and bouclé fabrics

Every year our design team identify the overarching trends in art, design, and culture – and recently, Rewilding was one of those larger themes.

Rewilding is rich with natural textural materials, from unfinished woods to tactile textiles with bouclé elements and a dry, linen-like feel.

At a time when the question of harmony between the earth and mankind is crucial, this is a design theme where unrefined wood surfaces reign supreme, and concrete ceilings are left unfinished. We see it in interiors full of texture, where textiles of natural compositions and blends are combined with the look of linen, cotton, and wool.

As you can see, Rewilding showcases bouclé fabrics perfectly! Explore our other trends here.

FibreGuard’s bouclé fabrics are stain-resistant, durable, superior performance fabrics

The ‘easy clean’ properties in our fabrics will last for their entire lifecycle, even after washing and/or prolonged use. Our bouclé fabrics are stain-resistant to ensure your peace of mind.

We frequently supplement our existing collections with new decorative fabrics, and trends and colours from the world around us are a key source of inspiration for our in-house design team.