Eco-friendly fabric from Hable Construction and Sensuede

Why It's Good:

If you want more than the earthy neutrals of eco-friendly fabrics like hemps and bamboos, look no more. For more zippety-do-dah, these fabrics vibrate with rich, saturated color, and the modern chic patterns suit us just fine, thank you!

Why It's Green:

Made of 100% polyolefin woven fibers (recycled polyester and plastic), Hable Construction's strong new line is so stain-resistant, it has less need for harmful chemical cleaners, plus they employ no harmful coatings during production. Best of all, the fabric is recyclable at the end of their lives, with a reclamation program in place. Sensuede is made of entirely recycled polyester fiber from plastic bottles and apparel. The production facility that produces the fabric has built its own recycling plant so it can control the quality of the fiber it produces as well as the waste stream.

Where To Get It:

Since Hable Construction for Bella-Dura fabrics are only available through designers, you'll need to contact your local design center and have a designer there make the purchase for a small, possibly negotiable percentage. To see styles, click here, hit "Collections," and scroll down to their lovely "Out Of Doors" section. Or for more information, call 1-212-228-5942. To directly purchase Sensuede fabric, $91.99 per yard, click here, or for stores in your area, click here. You can also call 1-800-213-6366 for more information.

Innovative, Indestructible Home Fabrics

Fabric made from recycled water bottles makes us think of polyester fleece: functional, but not fabulous. Now we have to think again: Polyolefin fiber, created from 100% recycled polyester and plastic, is being transformed into the most gorgeous and durable fabrics out there. The by-the-yard fabrics in 27 adorable patterns by Hable Construction for Bella Dura are best suited for outdoor living, being durable; fade-, stain-, mildew- and water-resistant; and anti-fungal and anti-microbial to boot. For our indoor decor, there's the nearly bullet-proof new Sensuede fabric available at Calico Corners. As a faux suede that comes in 130 solid colors (80 of them available online), it's animal-friendly (we'll protect you, precious bovines!), but what really makes us love Sensuede is how complementary it is, so there's no reason to look at other, non-eco-friendly coordinating solids. Great for any place where dirty hands and spills are likely, it's made to last for years because it can be easily wiped clean (of even ground-in chocolate cake, we hear) with a damp sponge and a little soap. All this talk about fabric makes us want to re-cover our dining chair seats, which are quite stained after only a couple years' use. Since reupholstering is only another form of recycling, we just might order some new eco-friendly fabric right now.—Julie Fowler