Sustainability
More and more people care about sustainability when they shop, even for chairs. When you want environmentally friendly materials, there are labels or certificates to look for, like the EU Ecolabel, Oeko-tex®, or Möbelfakta. Plastic chairs can be made from recycled or recyclable materials, and they usually have labels saying so. At Flokk, we've been working on sustainable solutions for almost 30 years. We offer many sustainable options, with 14 out of our 18 standard upholstery choices having eco-label certifications.
Read more - How to choose environmentally friendly furniture
Additional things to consider
When buying a chair, you'll come across a lot of extra information that can help you pick the right one. Here's a brief overview of some of the most common things you'll encounter.
The Martindale Scale
The Martindale scale measures how tough a fabric is by quantifying how well it can withstand rubbing. A higher number means the fabric is more durable. Different countries have their own rules for fabric use. For instance, in Germany, they recommend at least 10,000 for home use, 25,000 for office use with soft padding, and 15,000 for office use with hard padding. At Flokk, we look for tough fabrics. Most of our fabrics have at least 100,000 on the Martindale scale, and some are even stronger. This means they last a really long time.
Flammability
Before buying a chair, make sure it's made from materials that have been tested and certified for fire safety. Look for at least BS EN 1021: 1–2 (Cigarette & match) as a minimum requirement.
Light fastness
This is about how well the material can resist fading when exposed to light. It's measured on an 8-level scale, with 1 being very low and 8 being exceptional. Ideally, aim for a rating higher than 5. If your chair will be in a lot of sunlight, look for materials with a light fastness rating of 6 or higher.
Pilling
Pilling happens when the fabric surface becomes uneven due to broken fibers. This makes your chair less comfortable and doesn't look good. Pilling is also measured on a scale, usually from 1 to 5. A rating of 1 means severe pilling, while 5 means no change is detected. If pilling is important to you, check how a fabric's pilling is rated.
Download our Fabrics & Colour guide to easily compare and contrast our textile collection technical specifications