Water-Repellent (DWR) Fabrics

Products for category Water-Repellent (DWR) Fabrics

Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is a finish applied to fabric that causes water to bead up and roll off the surface rather than soaking in. Unlike waterproof membranes (which trap heat and moisture), DWR-treated fabric remains breathable — making it the appropriate choice for active workwear in light rain, mist, or damp conditions.

DWR vs. Waterproof — The Difference

Property DWR Finish Waterproof Membrane
Mechanism Water beads on fabric surface Physical barrier blocks water penetration
Breathability ✅ Full — unaffected ❌ Reduced — traps body heat
Weight increase Negligible Significant (membrane + lamination)
Cost increase +5–10% over base fabric +30–50% over base fabric
Wash durability 20–30 washes Lifetime of membrane
Best for Light rain, mist, splash, everyday wear Heavy rain, immersion, extreme conditions

For uniform programs — where workers are active, generating body heat, and exposed to intermittent light rain — DWR is the correct specification. Waterproof membranes are for dedicated rainwear, not daily uniform use.

DWR Performance Standards

Test Standard Target
Spray test AATCC 22 / ISO 4920 Initial rating ≥80, after 20 washes ≥70
Water repellency AATCC 22 Grade 3–4 (0–100 scale)
Oil repellency (optional) AATCC 118 Grade 3+ for dual-purpose DWR

DWR Chemistry — C6 vs. C0

Type, Chemistry, Performance & Environmental Features

C6 (Standard)
  • Chemistry: Short-chain fluorocarbon based
  • Performance: Excellent performance, spray rating ≥80, 20–30 wash durability
  • Environmental: Free of PFOA and PFOS, compliant with current EU and US regulations
C0 (Eco)
  • Chemistry: Fluorine-free, silicone or paraffin based
  • Performance: Good performance, spray rating ≥70, 15–20 wash durability
  • Environmental: Fully PFAS-free, the preferred option for EU green procurement

Available DWR Fabric Types

DWR is a surface finish applied to base fabrics. This section serves as a selection guide for all fabric styles available with optional DWR treatment:

  1. Product Code: CN-300-FR-WR

    Base Fabric: 88/12 Cotton/Nylon FR Twill, 300gsm

    Base Category: Flame Retardant

    DWR Variant: FR + DWR

    Best For: Oil & gas, mining; wet working environments requiring flame resistance

  2. Product Code: CN-350-FR-WR

    Base Fabric: 88/12 Cotton/Nylon FR Twill, 350gsm

    Base Category: Flame Retardant

    DWR Variant: FR + DWR

    Best For: Heavy industrial use; rainy conditions with heavy abrasion

  3. Product Code: HV-FR-300-WR

    Base Fabric: Hi-Vis FR Twill, 300gsm

    Base Category: Flame Retardant / Hi-Vis

    DWR Variant: FR + Hi-Vis + DWR

    Best For: Road construction works in rainy weather

  4. Product Code: HV-NFR-260-WR

    Base Fabric: Hi-Vis Non-FR Twill, 260gsm

    Base Category: Hi-Vis Reflective

    DWR Variant: Hi-Vis + DWR

    Best For: Traffic control, airport staff; rainy scenarios without flame retardant requirements

  5. Product Code: COT-300-FR-WR

    Base Fabric: 100% Cotton FR Twill, 300gsm

    Base Category: Flame Retardant

    DWR Variant: FR + DWR

    Best For: General industrial applications with light rain exposure

  6. Product Code: PC-STR-220-WR

    Base Fabric: PC Stretch Twill, 210–240gsm

    Base Category: 4-Way Stretch

    DWR Variant: Stretch fabric with DWR finish

    Best For: Corporate outdoor uniforms, golf apparel, resort wear, valet uniforms

1. Standard DWR Service — Any Base Fabric + DWR Finish

If you have an existing fabric program and need DWR added, we can apply it to most of our standard woven fabrics:

Parameter Details
Applicable to PC twill, CVC twill, cotton twill, PC poplin, cotton ripstop
Not recommended for Linen-heavy blends (DWR adhesion is weaker on linen)
Minimum for DWR treatment 300 meters
DWR type C6 (standard) or C0 (eco/PFAS-free)
Lead time addition +5–7 days to standard production
Test report AATCC 22 spray test report provided with batch

2. CN-300-FR-WR — 88/12 Cotton/Nylon FR Twill 300gsm with DWR

Already covered in the Flame Retardant category as an available finish on CN-300-FR.

→ Cross-reference: CN-300-FR-WR — 88% Cotton / 12% Nylon FR twill with DWR finish. AATCC 22 spray rating ≥80. EN ISO 11612 + EN 1149 + water repellency. See Flame Retardant Fabrics category for base fabric specifications.

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