Materials

Wicker Outdoor Furniture

Hand-woven all-weather wicker that softens a space and holds up to full sun and rain.

3 of 3 products

Living with wicker

All-weather PE, not natural rattan

Natural rattan belongs indoors — it splits and greys in sun and rain. Every MBY wicker piece is hand-woven PE rattan, UV-stable and resistant to cracking, which is what makes it a genuine outdoor material rather than a look.

The frame under the weave matters more

The weave is the finish; the 18mm powder-coated steel frame underneath carries the load and decides how long the piece lasts. It also makes wicker heavier than aluminum — an advantage in wind, a nuisance if you move furniture often.

Cleaning is genuinely easy

Hose the weave down and wipe with mild soap; the texture hides dust and pollen far better than a flat frame. Cushion covers are removable and machine-washable, which matters most on the pieces that live under trees.

Outdoor wicker is not the natural wicker that lives on a sunporch and falls apart in rain. It is PE rattan, a synthetic strand woven over a frame, and the point of it is that it looks woven while behaving like plastic in weather. These sets pair that weave with steel frames and thick cushions.

What is PE rattan, really?

Natural rattan is a palm stem. It splits, fades and eventually rots when it gets rained on, which is why genuine rattan furniture belongs indoors or under cover. PE rattan is polyethylene extruded into strands and woven the same way. It does not absorb water, does not rot, and holds colour far longer under UV. The look is close enough that most people cannot tell from a few feet away, and the behaviour outdoors is completely different.

Wicker or aluminum?

The honest split is weight and warmth. Wicker sets are heavier, because the weave sits over a steel frame, so they hold position better on an exposed patio and feel more substantial to sit in. Aluminum sets are lighter, genuinely rust-proof, and easy for one person to rearrange. If your space is windy or you never move furniture, wicker. If you rearrange often or you are on a balcony, aluminum. Our aluminum versus wicker guide works through it properly.

What to check before buying wicker

Look at where the weave terminates. Cheap sets leave strand ends tucked rather than fixed, and those are the first thing to work loose. Ask what the frame underneath is, because the weave is not structural and a steel frame with a compromised coating can rust even though the rattan never will. And check whether cushion covers unzip, since on a wicker set the cushions are doing most of the comfort work and will need washing.

Related

Several of these configure with a propane fire pit table. For the full range of seating groups in both materials, see patio conversation sets.

Common questions

Yes. All-weather PE rattan is woven over a rust-resistant steel frame and made for full outdoor exposure. Unlike natural wicker, it does not dry out, crack, or mildew in normal use.

Natural wicker is plant fiber and belongs indoors or under cover. PE rattan is a synthetic weave engineered for weather, so it keeps the same woven look without absorbing water or splintering outdoors.

Brush loose debris from the weave, then wash with mild soapy water and rinse. A soft brush reaches between strands; let the set dry fully before putting cushions back on.

Every piece passes the MBY All-Weather Test, a five-point durability check covering frame material, cushion fill and fabric, fastener spec, weight rating, and weather exposure before it is listed.