Resin Wicker

Looks Like the Real Thing

To satisfy the desire for a nostalgic look and feel, in recent years, casual furniture manufacturers came up with a wicker alternative built to last: all-weather wicker, or resin wicker. Woven with polyethylene resin fibers on a sturdy frame, these chairs and tables will withstand the elements, time and use.

Natural wicker furniture is made from rattan, a tropical climbing palm, or, sometimes, bamboo, a tropical grass. All-weather wicker, however, is woven from resin, which can be made into fine, vine-like pieces that resemble the authentic, natural materials.

High quality, well-made all-weather wicker is wrapped or woven on a steel or aluminum frame, which is sturdy, rust-proof (aluminum), doesn't warp and is less likely to come unglued. Some manufacturers of resin wicker claim that the furniture can be used outside throughout the year in any climate -- probably not advisable. If you own a piece of the older wicker, you know it can peel or flake. Not so with the all-weather variety, because dyes (coloring) are mixed right into the resin.