Natural rattan, synthetic rattan, wicker or rope: which fibre?

What is rattan and where does it come from?

Rattan is the stem of a tropical climbing palm. According to the FAO there are some 600 species, in 13 genera of the subfamily Calamoideae, growing mainly in the rain and monsoon forests of South East Asia. Indonesia is the main supplier of the rattan traded worldwide.

Unlike bamboo, which is hollow, a rattan stem is solid. That mix of strength and flexibility is what makes it useful for furniture: the FAO notes that few materials other than true rattan have the strength and flexibility furniture needs.

One stem yields several materials:

• Whole cane, bent with heat to make frames and arms.
• The peel or skin, cut into fine strips to bind joints and weave the cane webbing of seats and backs.
• The core, the inside left once the peel is removed, for thicker weaves and basketry.

Before it is worked, rattan is washed, bleached, dried and graded. That step matters: the FAO warns that, because of its high starch content, rattan is very prone to fungi and insects and needs treating after harvest.

Is rattan better than wicker?

For furniture in daily use, rattan is usually the better choice: it is thicker, stronger and can be bent into frames. Willow, the material Spanish speakers call mimbre, is a different plant and suits baskets, woven panels and light pieces better.

Willow wicker is made from the young, pliable shoots of several willows, mainly Salix viminalis, a temperate plant. Rattan is a tropical palm. Both are plant fibres, and they share the same weakness: moisture.

In a hotel, willow suits pieces that carry little weight: baskets, panels, headboards or side tables. For a chair or lounge chair used dozens of times a day, a rattan seat on a solid wood frame is more dependable: the wood gives the structure and the fibre gives the weave.

The confusion is a matter of language. In English, wicker describes the weave itself, whether it is willow, rattan or plastic fibre, so “wicker furniture” tells you little about the material. If a catalogue says wicker, ask which fibre it is made of.

What is synthetic rattan?

It is an extruded plastic fibre made to look like rattan, usually polyethylene (PE) or PVC, woven over an aluminium, steel or wooden frame. It does not absorb water, so it copes with rain; its weak point is the sun.

How well it stands up to UV depends on the polymer and the UV stabilisers in it. Makers agree in ranking PE ahead of PVC in sunlight, but there is no common standard or test that lets you compare brands. Ask the supplier three things: which polymer it is, whether it is UV-stabilised, and what guarantee covers fading.

In return, up close it looks less natural than rattan and feels more uniform. On an open terrace it usually earns its place; in a lobby or guest room, natural rattan brings a warmth it cannot match.

Can rattan furniture be left out in the rain?

Natural rattan, no. Synthetic rattan, yes, as long as the frame and cushions are made for outdoors too.

Natural rattan and willow absorb water, and repeated wetting invites fungi and insects. On a covered terrace they work if rain does not reach them directly and air can move around them. If a piece gets wet, dry it in the shade with good airflow before covering it again.

With synthetic rattan the fibre is not the issue. Look at what is underneath: an aluminium frame will not rust, a steel one needs a good coating, and a wooden one must be a durable species, as our guide to outdoor wood explains. Store the cushions somewhere dry when they are not in use.

What rope works for outdoor furniture?

A braided synthetic rope, in polypropylene, polyester or acrylic. Cotton or jute rope belongs indoors: it soaks up water and is slow to dry.

Much furniture rope resembles marine rope: braided, synthetic, made to get wet and dry quickly. What sets one apart from another is how it takes its colour. In solution-dyed fibres the pigment goes into the polymer before it is spun, so the colour runs right through and holds up to sun better than in surface-dyed rope. As with synthetic rattan, ask for UV data.

Rope has clear advantages in hospitality: it is comfortable without a cushion, lets water through, dries fast and lightens the look of a piece. Clean it with water and mild soap, rinse and let it dry in the air. Kadek Living pieces pair teak with rattan and hand-braided rope. If the piece will live outdoors, ask what fibre the rope is and whether it is solution-dyed.

How do you look after each fibre?

With water, mild soap and a little patience: none of the four needs special products. What changes is how much water each one can take.

• Natural rattan and willow: remove dust with a soft brush or a vacuum, wipe with a barely damp cloth and mild soap, and dry well. Never soak them.
• Synthetic rattan: wash with water, mild soap and a soft brush, then rinse with a hose. Avoid solvents, which can attack the plastic.
• Synthetic rope: water and mild soap, a rinse and air drying. Do not store it damp or under a cover that does not breathe.
• Cushions: store them somewhere dry when not in use, whatever the fibre.

In a hotel or restaurant, wear concentrates where people touch the piece: the front edge of the seat, the arms and the ends of the weave. Check those spots at the start and end of each season. A loose strand or a slack binding is easy to fix if caught early; left alone, the weave opens up.

Which fibre suits each area of a hotel?

Direct rain sets the rule: plant fibres where it cannot reach, synthetic fibres where it can. Sun then decides which synthetic suits.

The frame decides a piece's lifespan as much as the fibre does. A solid teak frame works in all three areas, so one collection can run from the lobby to the terrace with only the fibre changing. You can see wood, rattan and rope together in our lounge chairs and sofas and our terrace and pool furniture.

If the piece has cushions or upholstery, fire requirements apply to the fabric and filling, not to the fibre. Our guide to fire-retardant upholstery covers them.