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Short answer
For most Malaysian homes, polyester or a polyester-rich blend is the most practical curtain fabric. It resists fading, shrinking, creasing and mould better than natural fibres in a hot, humid climate, and it is easy to wash. Cotton and linen give a softer, more natural look, but they crease, can shrink and fade faster in strong sun, so they are best blended with polyester, lined, or used away from west-facing windows.
What Malaysia's climate does to curtains
Curtains in Malaysia face three things at once: strong sun through the glass, high humidity all year, and air-conditioned rooms where cold glass meets warm, damp air.
- Sun fades dyes and slowly weakens fibres, most of all on west-facing windows and in the folds that stay exposed when the curtain is open.
- Humidity lets natural fibres absorb moisture, so they relax, crease and can grow or shrink a little as the air changes.
- Condensation forms on glass in air-conditioned rooms. A curtain that touches wet glass for months can develop mildew spots, whatever it is made of.
So the fibre matters, but so do the weave, the colour and whether the curtain is lined.
Curtain fibres compared
| Fibre | Sun and fading | Shrinking and creasing | Humidity and mould | Look and feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Good to very good | Very stable; creases little | Absorbs little moisture and dries fast | Anything from crisp to soft; can imitate linen and velvet |
| Cotton | Fair; fades faster in strong sun | Can shrink and creases easily | Absorbs moisture; dry thoroughly after washing | Soft, matt and natural |
| Linen | Fair; fades and weakens in strong sun | Creases readily; can shrink and change length with humidity | Absorbs moisture | Crisp, textured, relaxed |
| Polyester-cotton blend | Good | More stable than cotton | Better than cotton | Soft and natural, with less upkeep |
| Polyester-linen blend | Good | More stable than linen | Better than linen | The linen texture with fewer creases |
| Viscose (rayon) | Fair | Weak when wet; can shrink | Absorbs moisture | Fluid drape and soft sheen |
These are general fibre traits. The weave, the finish and the dye matter too, so check each collection's care label and specification.
Polyester: the practical default
Polyester is the most common curtain fibre for good reasons. It holds its size when washed, resists creasing, keeps its colour well and absorbs very little water, so it dries quickly and gives mildew less to grow on. Modern polyesters cover every look: crisp sheers, dense dimouts, coated and woven blackouts, jacquards, velvets and linen-look weaves.
Most of the JOTEX curtain range is 100% polyester, including most of the sheers, dimouts and blackouts. See Linen-Look Curtains for polyesters that imitate linen.
Tip
If a curtain will hang on a west-facing window and you are unsure of the fabric, choose polyester and add a lining. It is the safest combination for colour and life.
Cotton and cotton blends
Cotton feels soft and matt, takes colour beautifully and suits relaxed, natural rooms. On its own it creases, can shrink if washed hot and fades faster in strong sun. Blending it with polyester keeps most of the look while making the fabric more stable and easier to care for.
- In the JOTEX range: ORGANIC is 100% cotton. FAY is 50% polyester, 50% cotton; DREAMS and the SEVILLE blackout are 65% polyester, 35% cotton; and ANITA is a 60% cotton, 40% polyester jacquard.
- Care: wash cool and gently, or dry-clean, and test a sample before washing a whole curtain. See How to Wash Curtains.
Watch out
Cotton-rich curtains can shrink by a few centimetres when washed. Ask your curtain maker whether to allow extra length, and follow the care label.
Linen and linen blends
Real linen has a crisp, slubby texture that many designers love. It also creases readily, can fade and weaken in strong sun, and, because it absorbs moisture, a long linen curtain can lengthen or shorten slightly as the humidity changes. In Malaysia, most people get the linen look from a polyester-linen blend or a linen-look polyester instead.
- Blends in the JOTEX range: the VALERY sheer (80% polyester, 20% linen), the AMAYA blackout (85% polyester, 15% linen), the TEKUSU ALHAMBRA blackout (92% polyester, 8% linen) and PRANA (91% polyester, 9% linen).
- Hanging: let linen-rich curtains hang for a few days before the hem is finished, so they settle first.
See Linen-Look Curtains for real linen, blends and linen-look polyester compared.
Fading and light-fastness
How well a fabric keeps its colour in daylight is called light-fastness. It is often tested against the Blue Wool scale from 1 to 8, where 8 fades least; for curtains, many specifiers look for 5 or higher. Ask for the rating when a curtain will face strong sun. See Light-Fastness Explained.
- Colour: mid-tones and greys hide fading best. Very dark and very bright colours show it first.
- Lining: a lining takes the sun instead of the face fabric and is the cheapest way to extend a curtain's life. See Curtain Lining.
- Layering: a sheer behind the main curtain filters the sun during the day. See Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer.
Weight and weave
Fabric weight is usually given in grams per square metre (gsm). Heavier fabrics drape in fuller folds, block more light and insulate better; lighter fabrics move with a breeze and are easier to wash. A tight weave also resists dust and fading better than an open one.
| Weight | Typical fabrics | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Sheers and voiles | Daytime privacy, layering behind a main curtain |
| Medium | Most dimouts, linen-look weaves | Living rooms and bedrooms, S-fold and eyelet |
| Heavy | Velvets, jacquards, coated blackouts | Formal rooms, bedrooms, French pleats |
Which fabric for which room
| Room | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | Polyester dimout, or a polyester-linen blend, with a sheer behind | Glare control, easy care, a soft natural look |
| Bedroom | Polyester blackout, or any fabric with a blackout lining | Darkness and heat control |
| West-facing room | Polyester, lined, in a mid-tone | Resists fading in the strongest sun |
| Kitchen | Washable polyester, sill length | Grease and steam; easy to wash often |
| Bathroom | Polyester, or a blind | Steam and humidity |
| Children's room | Washable polyester or polyester-cotton print | Frequent washing; fun prints such as DREAMS and TOKIDOKI |
Good to know
In air-conditioned rooms, leave a small gap between the curtain and the glass, and open the curtains to air the window regularly. It keeps condensation off the fabric and prevents mildew.
JOTEX fabrics with cotton
Collections that are cotton or a cotton blend, updated from the catalogue. Most of the rest of the range is 100% polyester; see all collections.
Browse all collections →
JOTEX fabrics with linen
Polyester-linen blends, updated from the catalogue. See Linen-Look Curtains for linen-look polyesters too.
Read the linen-look guide →
Frequently asked questions
What is the best curtain fabric for Malaysia?
For most homes, polyester or a polyester-rich blend. It resists fading, shrinking, creasing and mould better than cotton or linen in Malaysia's heat and humidity, and it is easy to wash.
Are cotton curtains good in Malaysia?
They look and feel lovely, but pure cotton creases, can shrink and fades faster in strong sun. A polyester-cotton blend, a lining, or a window that does not face west all help.
Do linen curtains work in humid weather?
Real linen absorbs moisture, so it creases and can change length slightly as the humidity changes. Polyester-linen blends and linen-look polyesters give the same texture with less movement and easier care.
Which curtain fabric fades the least?
Polyester, and especially solution-dyed fibres, fade the least. Ask for the light-fastness rating on the Blue Wool scale; for curtains, many specifiers look for 5 or higher. A lining also protects the face fabric.
How do I stop curtains going mouldy?
Keep the curtain off cold, wet glass in air-conditioned rooms, open the curtains to air the window, and dry curtains completely after washing. Polyester absorbs little water, so it resists mildew better than natural fibres.
Is polyester curtain fabric cheap-looking?
Not any more. Modern polyesters include soft linen-look weaves, velvets, jacquards and fine sheers. Most curtain fabric sold today, including most of the JOTEX range, is polyester.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.