Tricord, the hand-woven outdoor cord that defines Tribù seating
The Belgian house's proprietary composite cord — its polyester core, polyolefin outer, and the collections it threads together, from Mood to CTR.
Every Tribù seating piece that carries woven cord is woven in Tricord®, a composite material the Belgian house holds exclusively. Where most outdoor cord is a simple extruded strand, Tricord layers two materials around one purpose: a polyester core for structural strength, and an outer sheath of polyolefin nautical fibres for softness and a natural appearance. The result is a cord that behaves indoors but is built for the terrace.
The construction is straightforward in principle, demanding in practice. The polyester core is described by Tribù as unbreakable, giving the finished weave the dimensional stability that outdoor seating requires — so the seat does not sag over seasons. The polyolefin outer brings the material qualities of a nautical rope: resistance to moisture, fungi and UV exposure, alongside a surface feel that reads warmer than plastic-derived strands typically do.
Strong on the inside, soft on the outside — the two-layer construction is what lets Tricord hold its shape through seasons of real outdoor use.
Where Tricord appears across the catalogue
Mood is the collection most associated with the cord. Designed by Studio Segers, it pairs Tricord with plantation teak across sofas, a daybed, lounge chairs, bar chairs and ottomans. The weave is airy — Tribù describes it as yarn weaving available in a range of nature-inspired shades, one that reads amazingly natural in an outdoor setting.
CTR uses the same cord in a different register. Its defining feature is a backrest that appears to float around the seat, the open Tricord weave creating a visual gap between the structural frame and the woven back. Elio runs Tricord as a surface texture over sculpted aluminium. In Lucca, a variant called Tricord Wave introduces a subtle wave-like texture into the cord, giving the weave its own surface movement. In both Mood and CTR, the backing panels are individually replaceable — a practical detail that extends the working life of the piece without a full replacement.
What the outer layer resists
Tribù specifies four outdoor stressors the cord is engineered against: frost, water, fungi and UV rays. The polyolefin outer handles the chemical and biological exposure — ultraviolet degradation and the moisture-loving organisms that accumulate on outdoor surfaces — while the polyester core keeps the tension in the weave. Each piece is finished by hand, which means no two are exactly alike; the slight variation is the signature of the process.
For the American buyer the practical note is that all Tricord pieces reach the US through authorised dealers, with lead times that vary by collection and finish. For the full picture of the Belgian house — founded in 1966 and now in its third generation — see the Tribù profile.