FABRICS & MATERIALS
At MATÉRIELÉ, fabric is more than a finish — it’s the foundation of feeling. Each textile is chosen for its integrity, its touch, and the way it transforms light and space. We aim to work only with natural fibres and always with exceptional craftsmanship, valuing textures that age beautifully and speak with quiet confidence. From the effortless refinement of linen to the depth of velvet and the softness of cashmere, every material tells a story of comfort, longevity and understated luxury. We will give a breakdown of some of our favourite natural fibres to work with as well as other suitable or non-suitable materials for soft furnishings.
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CASHMERE.
Few fibres possess the quiet elegance of cashmere. Incredibly soft, beautifully lightweight and naturally insulating, it brings a sense of warmth and refinement that is difficult to replicate.
We are particularly drawn to the finest cashmere qualities for voile curtains, where their delicate weave gently filters daylight and lends a room an understated softness. In more substantial weaves, cashmere is equally luxurious at home as a finishing layer—crafted into cushions and throws that invite comfort while adding subtle depth and texture.
Although exceptionally luxurious, cashmere is best appreciated where it can be handled gently. We don't typically recommend it for upholstery on seating or beds, where regular use and abrasion can compromise its beauty over time. Instead, we favour cashmere for the details that complete a space—pieces that can be enjoyed for their tactile quality and timeless appeal.
WOOL
Wool balances warmth and structure with quiet sophistication. Naturally resilient and soft to the touch, it holds form while offering a sense of ease and comfort. Its subtle texture and breathable quality make it equally suited to tailored upholstery or relaxed layering. Enduring and versatile, wool embodies refined practicality with timeless appeal.
At MATÉRIELÉ we love wool in its satined version for window treatments, curtains especially as it creates a beautiful heavy drape, very elegant and suitable look for a town house or apartment.
In its natural state we love it for upholstery and accessories as despite its flat tailored look it is actually a durable steady material.
VELVETS
SO MANY VELVETS!
Cotton velvet, silk velvet, linen velvet, wool velvet, MOHAIR, cashmere velvet… plain, crushed, cut, uncut, corded, embossed, velour, velveteen and so on and so on; velvets have always been there and will always be there for their natural softness, cozy feeling, great wear, and colour handling.
We love a velvet (not so much for curtains) and we adore mohair (not our upholstery team, though) and will never not love it, even if it’s just a small detail like a piping, a cushion, a border…
We also prefer the natural fibre velvets as synthetic pile doesn’t behave very well on the work table.
LINENS
Not unlike the velvets , linens come in all different shapes and forms, textures, weights, stretches et cetera…
The beautiful and unquestionably brilliant thing about linen it is such all-around fabric, we can easily complete a full project of soft furnishing using only different variations of linen (try us!) Exceptionally versatile, linen is one of our first choices for curtains, upholstery, cushions and bedding. It performs beautifully throughout the home, balancing durability with softness while allowing spaces to feel light, breathable and inviting.
Linen will never go out of style. It can be elegant, it can be relaxed, durable, soft and breathable all at the same time.
Bouclé.
People have been saying that Bouclé is out for about a decade now, but it seems to be sticking around just fine. Do we think it’s outdated - absolutely not! True, you can find a lot of cheap dupes in polyester boucle that are trying to copy the look, but when it comes to the real deal we are all in! - silky, wool, curly pile, rich colours, melanges - the possibilities are endless!
Great for upholstery, stitch line hider, cozy texture, easy on the eye and when from a natural fibre - lasts forever even in high traffic seating or with small children and pets.