Materials

is a lightweight, tough metal with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, making it the ideal material for outdoor furniture. Gloster further improves the corrosion resistance of aluminum with a thin layer of chrome on the surface, which is then electrostatically powder-coated. This ensures 100% coverage and a durable finish that far surpasses conventional paint finishes.

is a general term for open-mesh woven fabric made from vinyl-coated, high-tenacity polyester yarn. Gloster uses premium sling fabric from Ferrari Batyline or Waytex, which is distinguished by its exceptional resistance to fading, mold, and wear, even under the most extreme weather conditions.

refers to a group of corrosion-resistant steels that share a minimum chromium content of 10.5%, which is the most important factor for their exceptional resistance. Other components are nickel and molybdenum. Gloster uses 304-grade stainless steel with an electropolished (EP) brushed finish. During electropolishing, an electrochemical process, the combination of electric current and an acid erodes the surface of the stainless steel substrate atom by atom. This process removes most of the iron from the steel surface but leaves the chromium intact, resulting in a shinier, highly corrosion-resistant surface. Because all stainless steel parts in the current Gloster collection, except for screws and fittings, are additionally powder-coated after electropolishing, the phenomenon of surface rust, which can typically occur in coastal areas with high salt content in the air, is eliminated.

is a fine-grained hardwood with a high natural oil content, incomparably resistant to decay and sun, rain, frost or snow. Gloster's premium teak wood comes from state-managed plantations on the island of Java.

When used indoors, teak wood retains its natural colour for a long time. Signs of wear or stains on the surface can be easily removed by wiping with a damp cloth, scrubbing (e.g. with the scouring side of a dishwashing sponge) or local sanding (e.g. with 400-grit sandpaper). 

Teak wood used outdoors lightens quickly when left untreated, as is usually the case. Even after the first changes between rain and sun, the wood tone becomes lighter and the colour visibly develops into a silvery grey. UV rays change the colour structure of the outermost wood fibres. Henrik Pedersen and other designers working for Gloster have deliberately incorporated this natural colour development into their design and colour concepts.

If you prefer the natural honey-coloured wood tone, it is also possible to stop the natural greying process by treating the wood regularly (e.g. twice a year) with Gloster's "Teak Sealer".​​

To protect teak wood surfaces from stains, regardless of whether you allow natural greying or preserve the original colour with Teak Sealer, we recommend using Gloster's Teak Protector. The invisible protection prevents food (coffee, ketchup, red wine, olive oil, etc.) from penetrating the teak wood and leaving stains. Teak Protector also protects against moisture penetration and the adhesion of dirt and prevents mould formation.

Gloster's teak wood comes from commercial forests on Java, Indonesia's main island. Originally, there were no teak wood deposits on Java. However, during centuries of Dutch colonisation, countless teak seedlings were imported from India because of the wood's indestructibility, and commercial forests were planted to obtain material for shipbuilding. Today, Java's teak forests are under state control and form, like European commercial forests, significant cultivated ecosystems.

is the term for synthetic woven materials. The extruded, solution-dyed polyethylene-based fabrics used by Gloster feel soft and supple, are completely weatherproof and colorfast, extremely durable, and easy to care for. The long-lasting weave is resistant to chlorine, salt water, tanning lotions, and oils.

Wicker furniture can remain outdoors all year round and withstand temperatures from -20°C to +55°C. In very cold weather, the wicker becomes slightly stiffer, and in hot weather, slightly more flexible. At moderate ambient temperatures, it will always return to its normal elasticity.

With the development of innovative, permanently weatherproof outdoor cushions, Gloster revolutionized outdoor furniture. The highest standards of design and comfort, previously only achievable indoors, have since defined the Gloster collection.

What all Gloster outdoor cushions have in common is a breathable interior that is protected from above against rain and moisture, but remains open underneath, allowing air to circulate at all times and preventing moisture from becoming trapped. The exact construction of the cushioning is further determined by three types of upholstery fabric:

1. Water Resistant Fabrics, the most robust of the outdoor fabrics, are coated with a waterproof layer on their underside and can remain outdoors unprotected in winter and summer. For maximum air circulation, the cushions underneath have an open-cell construction. The surfaces are extremely robust and can even be treated with intensive cleaning agents such as chlorine bleach.

2. Outdoor Performance Fabrics offer a wide selection of refined fabrics with a soft feel. Highly water-repellent, elastic, yet breathable “interliners” separate the upholstery from luxurious cold foam cushioning, which provides superb comfort.

3. Soft Touch Fabrics – these 3D-knitted fabrics offer ultimate softness, previously unheard of in outdoor settings, and a plush, comfortable seating experience. The cushion construction corresponds to that of the Outdoor Performance Fabrics (2.).

This material, which is many times harder than granite, is completely non-porous and retains its original surface unchanged even after years of outdoor use. This makes ceramic the material of choice if preserving the surface in perfect condition is important to you. After all, ceramic also protects spacecraft when they enter the Earth's atmosphere.

Glosters ceramic slabs display a natural interplay of color and form that arises from the irregular mixing of powdered crystalline base material, which is then "sintered," or fired, at extremely high temperatures to create the finished ceramic mass.