SUNBRELLA

Another beautiful day in the tropics... The trade winds are blowing, the sun is coming up over the horizon, and the sea seems to have calmed down since the day before. It’s the perfect time to weigh anchor and head off to discover another paradise island a few miles further south. The mainsail cover opens and a few minutes later, the wind fills the sails. When the sun starts to get too hot, the bimini unfolds to offer the helmsman some protective shade, while any serious tanning afficionados can stretch out on the sunbathing area. Everyone waits for happy hour to get together on the comfortable cockpit cushions, matching those in the saloon. Practical, useful, aesthetic and comfortable. Fabric is everywhere on our multihulls, but in this often-aggressive maritime world, with UV rays, humidity and friction to contend with, it is important to make the right quality choice when considering what they will be used for.

Modern multihulls and their large and numerous lounging areas are offering more and more upholstery - here on the Lagoon SIXTY 5. 

Dickson and Sunbrella, two world-famous brands!

At Sunbrella, there are several ranges available that can meet every need. This offer is based on know-how acquired since... 1836. That was the year Scotsman David Dickson set up his first linen loom in Dunkirk, France, and very quickly developed fabrics for sails and invented a treatment process to make his fabrics rot-proof when in contact with sea water. From the outset, the marine world has been part of the company’s DNA. At the end of the Second World War, synthetic fibers began to appear in fabrics to increase their resistance. The development then went through a merger with the Constant weaving company before joining the American group Glen Raven, world leader in technical outdoor fabrics and owner of the Sunbrella brand, which was born 50 years ago in the United States. Today, the group employs 3,500 people worldwide and has 8 production sites in America, China, and also in France, near Lille, and is present in 110 countries through 17 subsidiaries.

All the bench seats, cushions and sunbeds on the Nautitech 46 are made by Sunbrella.

Weaving: an ancestral craft

A visit to the factory at Wasquehal in the Nord region is an opportunity to discover a trade that has its roots in mankind’s earliest days, but that has not ceased to renew and modernize itself ever since. The complex of buildings, where about 350 people work, covers over 11 acres (45,000 m²), to which must be added 2.7 acres (11,000 m²) of storage for the finished products, which are located in Fretin, about 6 mi (10 km) away. Although weaving is part of the industrial heritage of many French regions, it is becoming more and more difficult to find qualified personnel due to the lack of training schools or specialized institutes. Most apprentices will therefore be trained in the factory. And watching the men and women working, right from the first stage of production, one can ...