Stable superhydrophobic surfaces with water contact angles over 170 degrees and sliding angles below 7 degrees were produced by simply coating a particulate silica sol solution of co-hydrolysed TEOS/fluorinated alkyl silane with NH3 center dot H2O on various substrates, including textile fabrics (e.g. polyester, wool and cotton), electrospun nano fibre mats, filter papers, glass slides, and silicon wafers.