Textileen can be found on many garden chairs, sun loungers and relaxing chairs. It looks like fabric, but you can sit on it straight after a downpour. What exactly is textileen, why is it called textilene on one product page and textielen on another, and is it right for you? In this article you'll read how the material is built, how it's made, where you find it on a piece of furniture, and what its advantages and disadvantages are. With examples from our range.
In short: textileen is an open woven fabric made from polyester yarn with a plastic coating, usually PVC, which is stretched tightly over a frame. On product pages it's also called textilene or textielen. It's mainly found on chairs and sun loungers with an aluminium frame. The advantages are quick drying, breathability and low maintenance; the disadvantages are a tighter feel than a cushion and sensitivity to heat and harsh cleaning products.
What is textileen?
Textileen is a sturdy, open woven fabric for outdoor furniture. It consists of polyester yarn with a plastic coating, usually PVC. The polyester gives the fabric its strength, the coating makes it smooth, protects the yarn against moisture and dirt, and gives it its colour.
You don't buy textileen separately, but as part of a piece of furniture. The fabric is stretched tightly over a frame, usually aluminium, and forms the seat, the backrest or the entire lying surface. In the product information this is therefore called the covering: under material covering it says Textilene.
The big difference from ordinary fabric is that textileen has no padding and that the coated yarn hardly absorbs any water. So there's nothing in it that can stay wet, and because of the small openings in the weave, rain runs through it quickly.
Textileen, textilene or textielen?
When you search for this material, you'll come across various names. They all refer to the same coated fabric:
| Spelling | Where you see it | Is it correct? |
|---|---|---|
| Textileen | Dutch texts | Yes, Dutch spelling |
| Textilene | Specifications, English | Yes, English spelling |
| Textielen | Webshops, search queries | Misspelling |
On product pages in our range you often see both: the specifications say "Covering material: Textilene", the description says "a seat of textileen". Textielen is actually the plural of textiel (Dutch for textile), but it's widely used when people search for this material. It's still the same fabric.
How is textileen made?
Every manufacturer has its own method, but broadly speaking it goes from yarn to furniture in three steps:
The basis is polyester yarn. This gets a layer of plastic, usually PVC. The coating also contains the colour and substances that make the fabric more resistant to sunlight.
The coated yarn is woven into a sturdy fabric with small openings. This open structure allows air and water to pass through.
The fabric is made to size and stretched tightly into the frame. How tight and even that is determines how the furniture feels and how well the fabric keeps its shape.
Because textileen sits under tension in the frame, the frame is just as important as the fabric. For the textileen furniture in this article, that is always aluminium, which doesn't rust. You can read more about this in what is aluminium.
Where is textileen on a piece of furniture?
Textileen is always where you sit, lean or lie. In our range you'll find it in these forms:
- Seat and backrest of a garden chair: with the Osaka chairs and the Moon dining armchair, the fabric forms the entire seat and backrest.
- Seat under a cushion: with the Danzig relaxing chair, the seat is textileen, with a thick cushion on top.
- The lying surface of a sun lounger: with the Limone sun lounger, the entire lying surface is textileen, with an adjustable backrest.
- The seating surface of a footstool: with the Osaka footstool, the manufacturer describes the seating surface as "made of textileen, the same material as the seat of the chair".
You see textileen far less on lounge sets. There, the seat and backrest are usually covered with cushions, and the frame is finished with wicker or rope.
How does textileen behave outdoors?
Textileen is made to stand outside, but it behaves differently from a cushion, rope or wood. These are the properties you notice in practice:
- Water: the coated yarn hardly absorbs any water and rain runs off through the openings. The fabric therefore dries quickly. It is water-permeable, not waterproof. You can read how this compares to other materials in weather-resistant garden furniture.
- Air: the open structure makes textileen breathable. You stick to it less quickly than to a solid plastic seat.
- Springiness: the tightly stretched fabric gives slightly as you sit or lie down. For the Osaka footstool, the manufacturer says the material remains "comfortable" and keeps "its shape".
- Sun and heat: a dark fabric gets warmer in full sun than a light one. After years in the sun, the colour may fade a little.
- Heat: textileen is plastic and can't withstand fire, a cigarette or a hot pan.
- Dirt: because there's no padding, dirt doesn't sink deep into it. You clean it with a damp cloth or a mild soapy solution.
Textileen works like a trampoline in a frame: it supports you because it's stretched tightly. So treat the fabric gently, but pay just as much attention to the frame and the fittings around it.
You can read how to clean the fabric, remove stains and get the furniture through winter in how to maintain textileen garden furniture.
With or without a cushion?
One of the big advantages of textileen is that you can sit or lie on it without a cushion. Even so, there are two types of textileen furniture:
Designed to be used without a cushion
With the Osaka chairs, the Moon dining armchair and the Limone sun lounger, the fabric itself is the seat or lying surface. Handy if your furniture always stays outside: after a shower you wipe it dry and you can sit on it again. A loose cushion or a towel is always possible, but not necessary.
Designed to be used with a cushion
On the Danzig relaxing chair, a thick, water-repellent cushion lies on the textileen seat. The manufacturer advises "using the chair including the cushion" and storing the cushion dry and clean when you're not using the chair. The textileen underneath dries quickly, the cushion doesn't.
Not sure which seat is most comfortable for you? Then read which garden chair is the most comfortable.
Advantages and disadvantages of textileen
| Aspect | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Rain | Dries quickly | Cushions must be stored dry |
| Comfort | Springy, breathable | Tighter than a cushion |
| Sun | Light fabric stays cooler | Dark fabric gets hot |
| Maintenance | Soapy water and a soft brush | No pressure washer |
| Appearance | Sleek and modern | Less cosy than rope |
Textileen is a good choice if you
- Are looking for a chair or sun lounger that can always stay outside and dries quickly after a shower
- Want to sit or lie down without cushions
- Want low maintenance, especially in combination with an aluminium frame
- Like a sleek, modern look
- Want a lightweight piece of furniture that's easy to move
Textileen, rope, wicker and fabric side by side
Textileen is often confused with other coverings. Here's how they differ:
| Material | What it is | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Textileen | Stretched coated fabric | Tight and springy |
| Rope | Synthetic cord wrapped around a frame | Soft, like fabric |
| Wicker | Plastic woven strands | Smooth and sturdy |
| Ordinary fabric | Uncoated textile, often with padding | Soft, absorbs water |
You can read more about the other materials in what is rope and what is wicker. If you want to see all materials for chairs side by side, including wood and aluminium, read the best material for garden chairs. For sun loungers, the same comparison is in comparing sun lounger materials.
Textileen in our range: chair, relaxing chair and sun lounger
To make the material more concrete, below you'll find textileen furniture from our range, each with a different use. All specs come from the product information. You can see the current prices on the cards.
Osaka: stackable and adjustable chair
The Osaka is available as a stackable chair and as an adjustable garden chair, both with a carbon black aluminium frame and a mid grey textileen covering. The seat height is 43 cm for both. The stackable chair has a seat width of 46 cm, the adjustable chair a seat width of 48 cm and an adjustable backrest. With the matching Osaka footstool measuring 48 x 48 cm, with a textileen seating surface, you can prop your legs up.
Osaka stackable chair
Osaka adjustable garden chair
Danzig relaxing chair: textileen with a cushion
A low relaxing chair with a powder-coated aluminium frame and a textileen seat, "a weather-resistant and breathable material", according to the manufacturer. A thick, water-repellent cushion lies on the seat. The seat height is 36 cm and the chair measures 75 x 93.5 cm with a height of 78 cm. If you're looking for two with a side table, there is also a Danzig set.
Danzig relaxing chair taupe
Moon dining armchair: textileen at the table
You can also sit on textileen at the dining table. The Moon dining armchair has a carbon black aluminium frame and a dark grey textileen covering. The seat width is 49 cm and, according to the product information, the chair is all weather, with a maximum load of 100 kg.
Moon dining armchair
Limone sun lounger: a textileen lying surface
The Limone sun lounger has an aluminium frame and a dark grey textileen lying surface. It is 203 cm long and 70 cm wide, the backrest has 6 positions and the seat height is 28 cm. According to the product information, the sun lounger is all weather and can bear up to 100 kg. The manufacturer advises storing it under a cover during prolonged bad weather.
Limone sun lounger carbon black
Also worth a look:
Limone sun lounger taupe
View sun lounger →
Danzig relaxing set carbon black
View set →
Osaka footstool
View footstool →View all textileen garden chairs, textileen sun loungers, adjustable garden chairs, stackable chairs and footstools. Not sure yet what type of garden furniture you're looking for? Then take the selection guide.
Which textileen furniture suits you?
| Your wish | Choose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting upright | Fixed backrest | Osaka stackable |
| Leaning back | Adjustable backrest | Osaka adjustable |
| Sitting low and softly | Relaxing chair with cushion | Danzig |
| At the dining table | Dining armchair | Moon |
| Sunbathing and lying down | Sun lounger with positions | Limone |
If you're specifically looking for a chair that can stay outside all season, also read which garden chair can stay outside.
Five misconceptions about textileen
"Textileen is just fabric"
It looks like fabric, but the yarn is coated with plastic. As a result it hardly absorbs any water and there's no padding that can stay wet, unlike an ordinary fabric seat or a cushion.
"Textileen is waterproof"
The fabric actually lets water through, and that's the point: no puddles stay on the seat. Whatever is underneath or behind it does get wet.
"Textielen is a different material"
Textielen, textilene and textileen are different spellings for the same fabric. On the product page it usually appears under material covering.
"You can't go wrong with it"
Textileen is low maintenance, not indestructible. A pressure washer, bleach or a cigarette can damage the coating. Read the common maintenance mistakes.
"The fabric is the only thing that matters"
Textileen sits under tension in a frame. A sturdy, rust-free frame is therefore just as important. For the textileen furniture in this article, that is always aluminium.
Checklist: spotting textileen on a product page
Tick off what you've checked; your browser will remember it.
- Checked under material covering whether it says Textilene or textileen
- Looked at where the fabric is: seat, backrest, lying surface or footstool
- Checked whether a cushion comes with it or whether you sit on the fabric itself
- Looked at the colour of the covering: light stays cooler in the sun
- Read the frame material, preferably aluminium
- Compared the seat height and seat width with your current chair
- Read the manufacturer's maintenance advice
- Considered a breathable protective cover or a dry spot for the winter
Frequently asked questions
What is Textilene?
Textilene is an open woven fabric made from polyester yarn with a plastic coating, usually PVC. It is stretched tightly over a frame, often aluminium, and forms the seat, backrest or lying surface of a garden chair or sun lounger. In product information this is called the sling.
Is Textilene the same as textilene or textielen?
Yes. Textilene is the English spelling you often see in specifications, for example under material sling. Textileen is the Dutch spelling. Textielen is a commonly used misspelling. All three names refer to the same coated fabric for outdoor furniture.
Can Textilene handle rain?
Yes. The coated yarn absorbs barely any water, and because of the open structure, rain runs through quickly. As a result, a Textilene seat or lying surface dries fast after a shower. Please note that the fabric is water-permeable, not waterproof. If you have a cushion on it, store it somewhere dry when it rains.
Is Textilene comfortable without a cushion?
On most chairs and sun loungers, yes. The tightly stretched fabric gives slightly under your weight, and the open structure lets air through. Some models, such as the Danzig relax chair, are designed to be used with a thick cushion. Check the product page to see whether a cushion is included.
What are the disadvantages of Textilene?
It feels firmer and cooler than an upholstered cushion, and a dark fabric becomes hot in full sun. It cannot withstand fire, cigarettes or hot pans, and a pressure washer or aggressive cleaning agent can damage the coating. The colour may also fade over the years.
How do you maintain Textilene?
Use lukewarm water, a mild soapy solution and a soft brush or cloth, then rinse and leave to dry. Do not use a pressure washer, bleach or solvents. The complete step-by-step guide, a stain table and winter tips can be found in our article on maintaining Textilene garden furniture.
