Spot the difference: Our high-performing velvets
Luxurious yet practical, our high-performing velvet upholstery fabrics, Finezza and Primeira, can be incorporated in any setting that needs a touch of glamour
Regular friends and clients will know that the pandemic hasn’t slowed us down when it comes to developing new fabrics. Last year we introduced Cord, Pearl and revisited our long-standing Mystique collection. This year, we’ve built on the success of these fabrics with not one, but two, new velvet collections.
We’ve been working on developing high-performing velvet upholstery fabrics for a while now; velvet has, in recent years, become increasingly popular in the world of fashion. Brands have moved away from minimalism and started channelling all-out maximalism, using flamboyant materials like sequins, silk, tulle and of course, deep, jewel-coloured velvet, in their designs.
It should come as no surprise that the interiors industry has followed suit, embracing rich colours, textures and contrasting saturated colour schemes. In other words, velvet is no longer the reserve of grandiose spaces, but a contemporary, comfortable material that you’re just as likely to find in modern office break-out space, as you are in a fine dining restaurant or cruise liner lounge.
We, in turn, have created two velvet collections: Finezza and Primeira. Both fabrics boast all the qualities that you’ve long come to expect of Agua fabrics: waterproof, anti-microbial, stain resistant, Crib 5 fire retardant and IMO certified. Both collections also have excellent Martindale Abrasion ratings too; meaning they’re more than tough enough to withstand high-traffic areas in busy commercial environments. We’re hugely proud of both, but it’s worth keeping in mind that there are subtle differences between the two collections when you come to spec your next project.
The full range of Finezza colours
Neutrals available in the Primeira collection
A few swatches from Primeira in natural light
First up, Finezza is the more expensive of the two, with a denser pile and weave than Primeira, which lends it a bold, saturated look and ensures it’s supremely durable. Primeira, meanwhile, has an ever-so-slightly less dense weave, but also has a deeper pile for a ‘silky’ handle that moves with and catches the light. There’s a tiny bit more movement in Primeira’s weave too, allowing for extra stretch if you’re looking to upholster awkward shapes.
The colour offerings from the two collections are also markedly different. Finezza’s palette is brighter, with fewer neutrals than Primeira. Among Finezza’s 26 different colours are bold tones like Chilli, a fiery red, Damson, which is a deep purple, and a zingy yellow that we call Citrus. Although punctuated with a few jewel tones, Primeira has a quieter look to it, with a roster of modern earthy tones like Tobacco, a warm brown, and a muted grey-beige called Putty, as well as a number of soft pastel shades. Both collections’ palettes were shaped by our long-standing expert colourist, choosing shades that best suit each fabric’s unique pile and weave.
Primeira’s competitive price point also opens up the collection to sectors like healthcare – making a luxury fabric more accessible. With this in mind, we’ve treated the range with AguaGuard365, which for those who might not know is the unique anti-microbial treatment that we developed last year in partnership with virology lab, HeiQ. AguaGuard365 is the only fabric treatment of its kind, employing silver and fatty vesicle technology to kill bacteria and viruses including COVID-19 on contact – which makes our AguaGuard-treated fabrics the natural choice for front-line healthcare and residential care environments.
It’s important to remember, though, that while subtly different, both Finezza and Primeira are true to the Agua promise: high-performing upholstery fabrics that don’t compromise on design or style.
Both collections are available to order immediately. Click here to request a sample, or reach out to our sales team through info@aguafabrics.com
