There is a lot of confusion regarding the terms Wicker vs Rattan in furniture production. Often, it’s the incorrect use of terminology that causes this confusion to happen. So let’s clear up easily what the difference between wicker and Plastic Rattan Set really is.
What is Rattan?
Rattan is a vine-like species that grows in tropical regions located in Africa, Australia, and Asia. When the skin is peeled away, it presents a flexible yet sturdy material that can be weaved into various shapes. Even the core of the plant is not wasted as it will be used in one way or another to build various types of furniture.
There are over 600 different species of Rattan. Because of its strong, fibrous qualities, rattan garden furniture is a very popular choice. Rattan is flexible, durable, lightweight, and most importantly, attractive. These qualities have made rattan a very hot commodity for both businesses and consumers alike.
Rattan's popularity comes with a price, however. When rattan stalks are cut down before they have fully matured, they don't have the ability to grow back. Therefore the plant is disappearing faster than it can replace itself. The industry has recognized this sustainability issue and have turned to synthetic materials that feel and look like rattan as an alternative option.
What is Wicker?
Wicker is a style of weave that's been used for thousands of years. The wicker technique can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. Wicker furniture such as chests, boxes, and baskets have been found in the tombs of ancient pharaohs. The oldest wicker furniture can trace its origins as far back as 3,000 B.C.
Though the wicker technique has been around for thousands of years, it truly became popular in the modern area due to the Arts and Craft Movement that began in the early 1900s. Advocates have spread the awareness of the wicker technique through seminars and workshops. Traditionally, wicker is made of woven fibres though recently synthetic resins have been used to create wicker weaves.
Wicker and Rattan: What’s the Difference?
Sometimes customers get confused by the difference between wicker and rattan outdoor furniture. In broad terms they describe much the same thing. More specifically, wicker refers to the woven construction method by which these items are made, while rattan refers to the material used for weaving. Rattan originally referred to a natural fibre harvested from a family of palms in Southeast Asia. These days we use a more modern, lightweight, synthetic material called polyethylene rattan. This material is more resistant to both ultraviolet light and water, and avoids contributing to the over-exploitation of the world’s natural rattan resources. To add to the confusion between the two phrases, synthetic rattan is also sometimes referred to as resin wicker.
Is Wicker or Rattan Good for Outdoor Furniture?
Lots of wicker outdoor furniture is sold these days, and the vast majority of it is woven from synthetic fibers.
Traditional wicker natural materials such as rattan, willow, and reeds are not very good choices for outdoor furniture due to how easily they can get damaged by moisture. After getting wet, these natural fibers turn soft and thus, the shape of the furniture piece can warp easily.
Moreover, collected moisture makes them a prime target for mold and mildew growth.
For this reason, any real rattan furniture that you can buy—that is wicker furniture woven from the actual rattan plant—should be used as indoor furniture.
If you require more information, then please feel free to contact Inshare Furniture(Zhejiang) Co., Ltd or visit our site: https://www.insharefurniture.com/product/plastic-sofa-set/
