What is the best flag fabric?

United States flag manufacturing companies produce the American flag from one of three fabrics: cotton, nylon, or polyester. Cotton fabric is a natural fiber which offers classic appearance but is more likely to fade, stain, shrink, and loose shape when displayed outside. Polyester and nylon fabric is more suitable for outdoor display. All major flag manufacturers produce commercial United States nylon flags from DuPont SolarMax(TM) nylon which has superior ultraviolet resistance and is less likely to fade as quickly as other fabrics. Polyester is a heavier material and will outlast nylon flags before fraying on the fly end. Polyester is preferred for display in strong wind and unpredictable weather conditions. Though not as fade resistant as nylon, polyester fabric is preferred for 24-hour display and large-size flag display. ... more