How to Decorate Podcast: “Performance Fabrics 101 with Patrick Shelton”

Episode 440 | Ballard Designs | November 18, 2025
Guest: Patrick Shelton, Valdese Weavers / InsideOut Performance Fabrics

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the world of performance fabrics—a term buzzing in the home decor industry, often leaving shoppers puzzled. The Ballard Designs team brings on Patrick Shelton, a seasoned expert from Valdese Weavers and InsideOut Performance Fabrics, to demystify what “performance” really means, explain how these fabrics are made, their real-life applications, care tips, and what trends are emerging for the future.

1. Meet the Guest: Patrick Shelton & Valdese Weavers

• [01:38–03:31]
  • Patrick’s Background: 15 years at Valdese Weavers, starting in management training and experiencing every aspect—yarn making, dyeing, weaving, finishing, quality testing, sampling, distribution.
    • “I got an up close and personal look at it... which continues to help me be a better asset and resource as I work with Ballard.” – Patrick Shelton [02:46]
  • About Valdese Weavers:
    • 110-year-old company, based in Valdese, NC, largest vertical textile mill in North America, 100% employee-owned.
    • Services furniture, interior design trade, hospitality, and more.
    • 75% of sales now come from performance fabrics, reflecting industry growth and demand.

2. What Does “Performance Fabric” Mean?

• [06:44–07:57]
  • “There's not a specific definition for performance and what it is and what it should do… it changes with every customer and their lifestyle.” – Patrick Shelton [06:44]
  • Performance can mean:
    • Durability
    • Cleanability (soap & water, bleach)
    • Fade resistance
    • Liquid repellency
    • Eco-friendly properties
  • The goal: help customers select the right fabric for their lifestyle and applications.

3. How Are Performance Fabrics Made? The Two Main Methods

• [08:51–13:28]
  • Yarn-Based (Solution Dyed) Performance
    • Performance engineered into the yarn.
    • Examples: Sunbrella (solution-dyed acrylic), InsideOut.
    • Inherently fade-resistant, bleach-cleanable, durable at the fiber level.
  • Chemically Treated Performance
    • Regular fabrics coated/finished with a chemistry after weaving.
    • Examples: Krypton, Queen’s Velvet at Ballard.
    • Yarns can be natural (cotton, linen) or synthetic. Performance finish repels liquids, enables cleaning.
  • InsideOut Fabrics (all-in-one)
    • Merges fiber-level engineering with repellency finish for best in class cleanability, design, and hand feel.
    • “It was the first all-in-one performance product… engineered at the fiber level… looks and feels like a decorative, beautiful indoor fabric.” – Patrick Shelton [12:23]

4. Fabric Types, Fibers, and What They Mean

• [15:02–19:23]
  • Common fiber types in home upholstery: polyester, olefin/polypropylene, rayon/viscose, cotton, acrylic.
  • Synthetic fibers:
    • Polypropylene/olefin: Very cleanable, water repellant, value-oriented but not as attractive or soft.
    • Polyester: Durable, cleanable, can be highly decorative.
    • Acrylic: Ultimate fade resistance, often for outdoors. Downside: may pill.
  • Natural fibers:
    • Cotton: Matte, dry, beautiful but not highly cleanable.
    • Rayon/viscose: Sheen and decorative appeal, but can water spot.
  • “Every yarn has its positive attributes and its negative attributes… creative balance is key in design.” – Patrick Shelton [15:02]

5. Caring For Performance Fabrics: Cleaning and Maintenance

Velvet & Pile Fabrics

• [21:06–27:29]
  • Always blot excess first.
  • Clean pile (velvet, chenille) in one direction.
  • Use water first, gentle dab (not scrub). Gradually move to powdered detergent or diluted soap (Tide, Dawn)—never excess soap.
  • Clean the whole cushion if you clean a spot to avoid uneven look.
  • Rinse out soap (since residue attracts dirt).
  • Address spills promptly for best results.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “Don’t go get the tire brush… the best thing… is to take a deep breath, relax… remove any excess first, just start with water…” – Patrick Shelton [21:12]

Favorite Home Hack

• [26:11–26:54]
  • Caroline’s method: blue Dawn soap + toothbrush; Patrick agrees this is “pro” level.

Bleach Use

• Use only on fabrics specifically engineered for bleach-cleanability. Avoid unless sure, and even then, use extreme care.

6. Color, Patterns, and Practical Choices for Everyday Life

• [28:02–31:42]

  • Performance fabrics are not self-cleaning—white is possible, but requires more upkeep.

  • Multicolored/textured/bouclé fabrics hide daily wear and stains better than stark, crisp whites.

  • Pet owners: Avoid boucle or open weaves for claws; tightly woven or velvet options are best.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “The likelihood you’re going to need to provide a little bit higher level of upkeep to keep it [white upholstery] clean and looking crisp is greater than if you buy something… more melanged or multicolored.” – Patrick Shelton [29:15]
    • “There’s no pet-proof fabric either, but … the more tightly woven, multicolor product is going to help hide some sins.” – Patrick Shelton [30:01]

7. Routine Maintenance & Realistic Expectations

• [31:54–36:21]

  • Vacuuming and flipping cushions: monthly or as needed.

  • Consider annual steam-cleaning for deep freshness.

  • Armrests are trickiest (no flipping!): Regular spot cleaning, judicious bleach use on bleach-safe fabrics.

  • Daily “grime” and general wear often shows on high-contact areas—clean entire sections not just spots.

  • Notable Quote:

    • “The better that you take care of something, the longer it’s going to last.” – Patrick Shelton [31:57]

8. Liquid Repellency (Beading) – What’s Realistic?

• [36:21–39:23]
  • All Ballard’s performance fabrics offer initial liquid repellency, but:
    • Heavy/distant spills may penetrate.
    • Repellency degrades with repeated washing and wear.
    • If fabric is already wet, spills will soak in—let dry to restore repellency.
  • Lab testing ensures baseline performance—spray ratings.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “It’s not going to sink into your sofa, but it’s going to go somewhere—into your pants leg or onto the living room rug.” – Patrick Shelton [37:30]
    • “Performance is not just in the repellency. It’s engineered into the fiber.” – Patrick Shelton [39:12]

9. Design & Color Trends: What’s Next for Performance Fabrics?

• [40:53–45:49]

  • Focus on softness, solid textures, boucle, multicolor.

  • Heavy investment in new yarns for tactile innovation.

  • Warm tones (camels, ochres, terracotta), green trending.

  • Tapestry/archival multicolored patterns returning, reinterpreted with modern performance qualities.

  • Multicolored fabrics offer "chameleon" versatility for room refreshes over time.

  • Notable Quote:

    • “Where we're going is… blending these archival patterns, but developing them into modern day constructions with performance. We think is going to be a home run.” – Patrick Shelton [44:05]

10. Why Fabric is as Important as Style or Price

• [46:03–47:47]
  • Don’t treat fabric as an afterthought. Durability, cleanability, and appearance are key to the lifespan and enjoyment of furniture.
  • “The first thing people see when they walk in is the fabric. So we take a lot of pride in that, knowing that that's what somebody's gravitating toward.” – Patrick Shelton [46:43]

11. Ballard’s Offering and Collaboration

• [49:51–51:04]
  • Ballard offers over 60 InsideOut options—solids, stripes, coords, patterns—tailored for layering and personalizing.
  • “To be able to layer a room in and around performance, I think, is to a scale and to a degree that, that no other retailer can offer.” – Patrick Shelton [49:51]

12. Final Takeaways & Where to Learn More

• [52:40–53:28]
  • Shop 60+ InsideOut Performance Fabrics at Ballard Designs (in-store and online).
  • More info and tips: InsideOutPerformanceFabrics.com and @InsideOutPerformanceFabrics on social.
  • Both InsideOut and Ballard Designs websites have cleaning videos and detailed care instructions.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “Don’t panic, don’t overreact… The worst thing you can do is feel like the harder you scrub, the better it’s going to be because you can wear a hole in the fabric.” – Patrick Shelton [21:12]
• “Nothing is cat proof.” – Liz [31:42]
• “There’s no pet-proof fabric either, but I would generally just say that the more tightly woven, multicolor product is going to help hide some sin, so to speak.” – Patrick Shelton [30:01]
• “Performance fabrics are not self-cleaning… you’re still going to have to get the stains out and clean it a lot.” – Caroline [28:02]
• “Performance is not just in the repellency. It’s engineered into the fiber. It’s going to be there for the life of the product.” – Patrick Shelton [39:12]
• “Don't treat fabric as an afterthought and make it sort of a primary focus.” – Caroline [47:47]

Useful Timestamps by Topic

• Guest Intro & Valdese Weavers – [01:38–06:24]
• Defining Performance Fabric – [06:44–08:51]
• How Performance is Made: Solution-Dyed vs. Treated – [08:51–13:28]
• Understanding Fibers & Blends – [15:02–19:23]
• Cleaning & Maintenance – [21:06–31:42]
• Color, Pattern, Pets & Hiding Wear – [28:02–31:42]
• Expectations & Maintenance – [31:42–36:21]
• Beading & Repellency Realities – [36:21–39:23]
• Trends & Design Direction – [40:53–47:47]
• Final Takeaways & Resources – [52:40–53:28]

Summary Tone & Insights

• The discussion is warm, practical, honest, and brimming with actionable tips for real-life decorating scenarios.
• Patrick demystifies performance fabric jargon, empathizes with everyday stains and messes, and offers confidence that beauty and durability can coexist—just don’t skip the maintenance!
• The Ballard team’s enthusiasm for combining trend, texture, and toughness comes through clearly, especially for those who want kid- and guest-friendly, beautiful homes.

A must-listen for anyone shopping for upholstery, wrestling with kid/pet/life messes, or simply wanting to feel confident about fabric choices in a stylish, lived-in home.

For more resources, see:

• InsideOutPerformanceFabrics.com
• BallardDesigns.com and their How to Decorate Blog