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FABRICS

Waterproof canvas fabric

From sales and awnings to shoes and bags, canvas fabric is one of the world's most widely used materials. Custom-printed cotton canvas fabric and other fibres are used to construct this durable fabric, and here, we investigate it a little further. Whether you are creating outdoor gear, bags, or anything else that requires water resistance, our waterproof canvas fabric will exceed your expectations.

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4.6/5 from 1600+ independent 3rd party reviews

1-2 Days Production

Cottons, Silks, Jerseys, Recycled Poly-fabrics & more

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Quantity, Wholesalers and Students

Made in London, UK

Sustainably & ethically made in London, UK, since 2002

We offer discounts

You can take advantage of our wholesale prices or use our dropshipping service to sell without ever holding inventory. Plus, we offer discounts on all products which you can pass on to your customers.

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Students

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Custom Canvas Fabric Printing

What is canvas fabric?

Renowned for being sturdy, strong and tear-resistant, canvas fabric is a material which has been in use and in demand since 3,000 BC, when it was used to make sails, canopies, awnings and outdoor shelters. Cotton canvas fabric is firm, heavy, and closely woven in a plain weave or a plain weave variation.

Heavy duty canvas fabric is tightly woven and used for many end uses, ranging from outdoor equipment to art canvases. The name canvas derives from “cannabis”, the Latin word for hemp. Some canvases are still made from hemp, thus keeping this versatile fabric traditional.

Canvas can be constructed from several fibres, including:

Cotton canvas fabric – one of the most common types of canvas. Medium strength is between 10 and 20 times stronger when wet than dry.
Linen canvas fabric – another natural fibre used for making canvas. It is 2 to 3 times stronger than cotton and is extremely taut.
Synthetic fibres – the canvas can be constructed from synthetic fibres or blends. By blending them with natural fibres, you can retain the natural abilities and combine them with durability and resilience to create printed waterproof canvas fabric.
Hemp canvas fabric – this natural fibre is resistant to mildew, rot, and sunlight. Hemp canvas is naturally repellent to insects and is more elastic than cotton or linen.

How is it manufactured?

UK-made canvas fabric is usually constructed of cotton or linen. However, other fibres, such as hemp, jute, polyester, nylon, and blends, are sometimes used to create canvas.

Canvas has a very simple weave; the weft thread just goes over one warp thread and under the next. It is a warp-faced fabric since the warp yarns have more crimp around more or less straight weft yarns.

To make art canvases, the canvas fabric is usually treated with a layer or 2 of gesso primer to the surface. If the canvas is left untreated, the fabric can then soak up the paint, causing some of it to disappear or clot on the surface.

Purposes of canvas fabric

The purposes of canvas are wide and varied, from art canvases and waterproof canvases to fabric for furniture. It is a diverse textile, and many of the original uses of canvas are still being utilised. Painting surfaces, sails, tents, shelters and outerwear are still popular uses for canvas. Some are given a contemporary twist, like deckchair canvas fabric, thanks to its strength, durability and resilience to water.

Because of its abundant strength, manufacturers use canvas to create anything that requires a tough and robust finish while still retaining a natural and almost traditional look. Bags, backpacks, shoes, totes, trampolines, coats and outerwear all benefit from canvas fabric.

Properties

Because it is so tightly woven, the fibres swell when the material gets wet, filling in any gaps and creating a waterproof canvas fabric. Some other notable properties of canvas include:

Strong
Durable
Sturdy
Thick
Relatively stiff
Made from a simple weave
Tightly woven
It can be made from different fibres
Windproof
Stress and ladder resistant
When treated properly, you can get flame-resistant or waterproof canvas fabric
Some constructions have a degree of stretch, whereas others are taut
It can be blended with synthetic and natural fibres

Advantages of canvas fabric

Canvas fabric has a range of advantages, making it a great fabric choice for so many end uses. You can buy canvas fabric wholesale and online, in various sizes, weights and fibre compositions.

One of the major advantages of canvas is that it readily accepts a range of chemical treatments to improve its natural qualities.

By combining synthetic materials with natural fibres, you can create printed waterproof canvas fabric which is light yet robust and completely weather-resistant. This blend has made canvas a popular choice for industrial, architectural and marine uses.

Design Your Own

Woven Canvas 300 Organic Cotton Canvas Sailor's Canvas Portobello Canvas Fabric Woven Canvas 500gsm