Threads | Aura

Aura is a finely textured weave from the Threads Winch Design Indoor I Outdoor Weaves Colour collection, a set of performance cloths made with Winch Design for furniture that has to work inside and out. The surface has a tight, all-over grain with a slightly dry hand, so it reads as a soft plain rather than a pattern, and the colour runs evenly through the yarn rather than sitting on the surface. It is a straightforward, hard-wearing cloth for a piece that needs to survive real use.

The cloth is 100 per cent polypropylene, 137 centimetres wide, with a 1 by 2 centimetre repeat, too small to plan around. It is rated at 40,000 rubs on the Martindale test, so it is rated for upholstery, and the page lists it for loose and fixed upholstery, indoors or out. It comes in six colourways, Cloud, Sand, Ocean, Marine, Moss and Dove: Cloud and Sand are the pale neutrals, Ocean and Marine are the two blues, and Moss is the green we use against timber.

We tend to use Aura on outdoor sofas, loungers and dining chairs, on a boot room bench, and on family sofas indoors where spills are a fact of life. It pairs well with a printed Winch Design cloth on the scatter cushions and with teak, rattan or painted metal frames. It also works well as a plain foil to a bolder Faraway print elsewhere in the room. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

With such a small repeat there is nothing to match, but keep the weave direction consistent across every panel and cut the pieces for one item from a single bolt. The cloth can be machine washed warm on a minimum wash and cool ironed, but should not be dry cleaned or tumble dried; ask your upholsterer for zipped, removable covers and a solution-dyed thread if the piece is going to live outside.

• Composition: 100% polypropylene
• Width: 137 cm (54 in)
• Pattern repeat: 1 cm vertical, 2 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 40,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Loose and fixed upholstery, indoor and outdoor use, cushions
• Care: Machine wash warm on a minimum wash and cool iron; do not dry clean, tumble dry or bleach
• Collection: Winch Design Indoor I Outdoor Weaves Colour, Threads
• Colourways: 6 (Cloud, Sand, Ocean, Marine, Moss, Dove)