--- title: "Corduroy sofa, polyester or cotton? Mostly polyester, no hemp" url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/corduroy-sofa-fabric-cotton-or-polyester/" section: "The Cutting Table" author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans" author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/" published: "2026-01-15" updated: "2026-09-24" keywords: "corduroy sofa polyester or cotton, what is corduroy made of, polyester corduroy sofa, corduroy floor sofa fabric, is corduroy cotton" --- # Is the corduroy on the sofa cotton or polyester? *Corduroy holds light in its ridges the way a plowed field holds it at dusk, my friends. What those ridges are made of is one of the questions we are asked most.* Also asked as: is the corduroy polyester or cotton; what blend is the corduroy > **The quick answer:** The sofa corduroy is mostly polyester, not cotton: the workshop describes it as 100% polyester plush corduroy or a poly-cotton blend, because furniture corduroy isn't made in pure cotton. It contains no hemp, it is one of the fabrics from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239), and the covers come off and machine wash at up to 86°F (30°C). ![Low floor sofa in oat velvet with rust velvet side bands, two back pads and an arm block on oak boards by a jute rug](https://cushionguide.com/media/modular-floor-sofas/oat-rust-velvet-floor-sofa-blush-living-room-1600.webp "A floor sofa built from separate pads: oat velvet on every face you sit on, rust velvet wrapped around the edges where scuffs usually show first.") ## Key facts - The corduroy is described as 100% polyester plush corduroy or a cotton-polyester blend. - Furniture corduroy is not made in pure cotton. - The fabric contains no hemp. - It is one of the fabrics from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239). - The sofas are filled with cold foam. - Covers are removable and machine wash at up to 86°F (30°C). - Corduroy color names stay the same across products, so sofas and cushions match. ## What the corduroy is - ✓ **Mostly synthetic.** Described as 100% polyester plush corduroy, or as a cotton-polyester blend. - ✓ **Sometimes called corduroy velvet,** for its soft, plush pile. - ✓ **One of the fabrics from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239).** - ✓ **Washable.** The covers come off and go in the machine at up to 86°F (30°C). - ✓ **Consistent in name.** Water green on a sofa is water green on a pillow. ## What it isn't - ✗ Pure cotton. Furniture corduroy isn't made that way. - ✗ Hemp, in any blend. - ✗ A candidate for home dyeing. Dyeing the covers is not recommended. ## One reply said natural; the fuller answers disagree The workshop's answer settles on polyester or a poly-cotton blend. You may see the corduroy called a natural fabric now and then; I trust the fiber content, and the plain fact that furniture corduroy isn't made in pure cotton points the same way. The whole family sits in the [corduroy swatch library](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/corduroy/). If natural fiber matters to you, look elsewhere in the range: a 100% linen chart, 100% cotton fabrics, and [linen and cotton-linen](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-and-cotton-linen/) blends. Natural fibers cost a little more; the quote shows the difference. The [OEKO-TEX label pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/oeko-tex-standard-100-cushions/) explains what that certificate covers. > Furniture corduroy isn't made in pure cotton: expect 100% polyester or a poly-cotton blend, with covers that machine wash at 86°F. > > — Élodie > **Tailor's margin:** Corduroy color names stay the same on every corduroy piece, so a water green sofa and water green pillows match. ## Buyer questions **A common question:** What are the corduroy sofa covers made of? I'd like to dye them. **The workshop's answer:** They're 100% polyester plush corduroy, removable and machine washable. Dyeing the covers isn't recommended. **A common question:** Is the floor sofa fabric velvet or corduroy, and what fiber is it? **The workshop's answer:** It's polyester corduroy, because furniture corduroy isn't made in cotton, and it has no hemp. **A common question:** What is the corduroy pouf sofa made of? **The workshop's answer:** The same corduroy as the teddy sofas, a cotton-polyester blend. **A common question:** What is your corduroy made of, and will the colors match across pieces? **The workshop's answer:** Polyester, one of the fabrics from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239). The same color names, such as water green, are used on every corduroy item, so a sofa and its cushions match. ## Questions buyers ask next ### Do claws catch on the corduroy? Not easily. The corduroy is described as durable and anti-scratch, and when it does need a wash, the covers come off and go in the machine at up to 86°F (30°C). ### Is the velvet cotton velvet? No. It's polyester or a poly-cotton blend, which resists crushing, wear and wrinkles better than cotton velvet. For natural fiber, choose the 100% linen range or a cotton-linen. ### Can I buy the corduroy by length to match my cushions? Yes. Samples and cut lengths are sold, and larger pieces through a custom order. Send the fabric code and the length you need; the fabric can ship with your cushions. ## Related at the atelier - [Does the sofa or the velvet replacement cover contain hemp?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/hemp-sofa-cover-material/): No, neither the corner teddy sofa nor the velvet replacement covers contain hemp. - [Is your velvet cotton velvet or polyester?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/velvet-cushion-fabric-cotton-or-polyester/): The cushion velvet is synthetic, polyester or a poly-cotton blend, not cotton, linen or silk velvet. - [What are your cushion fabrics made of: polyester, cotton or linen?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/cushion-fabric-composition-polyester-cotton-linen/): Most cushion fabrics in the range are polyester or polyester blends, chosen because they last longer on seating and clean easily: the velvet, the soft fabric, the linen-look fabrics and the corduroy. - [Striped Bench Cushion in Terracotta and Ochre: How It Wears](https://cushionguide.com/readings/terracotta-ochre-knotted-stripe-box-cushion-closeup/): A knotted-stripe cotton like this terracotta and ochre one has a flat cotton ground with raised knot rows you can feel, looks calmest as a box cushion with self piping, and is easiest to live with… - [Dogs on the bench, cats on the banquette: pet-friendly bench cushions that cope](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/pet-friendly-banquette-and-bench-cushions/): A pet-friendly bench cushion uses a tight, loop-free weave, such as a high-rub polyester, in a zippered cover you can wash at 86°F (30°C). - [Bolster Pillows in Striped Cotton: Measuring a Window Daybed](https://cushionguide.com/readings/four-striped-cotton-bolsters-window-daybed/): To measure for a bolster pillow, take the inside length of the daybed or seat where it will lie, measured on the frame rather than the old pillow, then choose the diameter by how high you want to… - [Corduroy modular floor sofas and cushions: wale size, nap direction, why no piping](https://cushionguide.com/guides/corduroy-cushions-wale-nap-direction/) - [Cushion fabric pilling: why it happens and how to handle it](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-fabric-pilling/) *With color and care — Élodie* --- Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/corduroy-sofa-fabric-cotton-or-polyester/