If you have spent any time shopping for throws online in Australia, you will have noticed that most of what's available is acrylic. It photographs beautifully. It comes in every colour. It is cheap to produce and cheap to buy. And it is, in our view, not worth having.
This is not a popular opinion in retail. Acrylic sells. But House of Dudley has never stocked it, and we are not going to start. Here is why — and what we stock instead.
What acrylic actually is
Acrylic fibre is a synthetic plastic — polyacrylonitrile, to be precise — made from petrochemicals. It is designed to mimic the softness and warmth of wool at a fraction of the cost. In the short term, it succeeds. An acrylic throw feels soft in the shop. It looks good on the shelf. It photographs well for an Instagram flat lay.
Within a season or two, though, the reality becomes clear. Acrylic pills. It generates static. It doesn't breathe, which means it can feel clammy in warmer weather and oddly cold in cooler weather rather than regulating temperature the way natural fibres do. And it sheds microplastics with every wash — tiny particles of plastic that enter the water supply and don't break down.
We are not evangelical about this. We are not going to lecture anyone about their throw choices. But when customers ask us why our throws cost more than the ones at a large homewares chain, this is part of the answer.
What we stock instead — and why
Linen throws are our anchor fabric. Linen is one of the oldest textiles in the world for good reason: it is extraordinarily durable, gets softer with every wash, breathes beautifully in warm weather and provides genuine warmth in cooler months. A quality linen throw will outlast a dozen acrylic ones. Our Cavalier Linen Throw range is a perennial favourite precisely because customers buy one and then come back for more when they want to gift one to someone.
Woven cotton throws sit alongside linen as our everyday workhorse. Cotton is washable, durable and available in a range of weights from light summer gauze to heavier winter weaves. A woven cotton throw in a classic check or stripe is the kind of thing that sits on a sofa for a decade and looks better for the wear.
Wool and wool-blend throws are our warmest option. Wool regulates temperature better than any synthetic — it keeps you warm without overheating, which is why it has been used for bedding and outerwear for centuries. We are selective about our wool sources and stock only blends that feel genuinely good against skin.
Faux fur throws are the one exception to our natural fibre preference — and we are transparent about that. A faux fur throw is, by definition, synthetic. But it serves a specific decorative purpose that no natural fibre replicates: the plush, tactile luxury of fur texture for a sofa or guest bed. We stock faux fur throws because our customers ask for them and because they do something visually distinct. We just don't pretend they are something they're not.
The cost question
A linen or woven cotton throw from House of Dudley costs more than an acrylic throw from a mass retailer. That is simply true. The honest way to think about it is cost-per-use rather than purchase price. A throw you replace every two years because it has pilled and lost its shape costs more over a decade than a throw you buy once and keep.
We are also conscious that not everyone has the budget for the most expensive option, which is why we try to maintain genuine quality across our range at different price points — not a token cheap option and then everything else expensive, but a genuine spread where the entry-level product is still something we are proud to sell.
What this means for you
When you buy a throw from House of Dudley, you know what you are getting. Natural fibres where possible, honest materials descriptions, and nothing we wouldn't want in our own homes. That is the only standard we have ever applied.
Browse our full throws and blankets collection →
Also worth reading: How to Layer Throws and Cushions Like an Interior Stylist →