Buying Kravet Fabric Online: 3 Scenarios Where It Works (and 1 Where It Doesn't)

There's no single answer to 'should I buy Kravet fabric online?'

When I first started handling fabric orders for our firm back in 2017, I assumed the answer was always no. Kravet is a luxury brand. You need to see it, touch it, drape it. Ordering online felt like a shortcut to disaster.

Turns out, I was half right. And half wrong. The real answer depends entirely on what you're doing with that fabric.

After personally messing up about $3,800 worth of orders in my first 18 months—including one particularly painful $650 mistake involving a velvet for a hotel lounge—I developed a simple framework. Here are the three scenarios where buying Kravet fabric online makes sense, and one where it absolutely does not.

Scenario A: You're a professional designer who needs exact color matching

This is the scenario that scares most of us. You have a client-approved color palette. You need a specific Kravet velvet (say, their Velvet Bow in a custom colorway). Ordering online feels reckless.

Honestly? It used to be reckless. But as of 2025, the game has changed.

What I learned the hard way

In September 2022, I ordered 45 yards of a Kravet performance velvet for a commercial lobby. I'd seen a physical sample two weeks earlier. Looked perfect. Ordered online. When the bolt arrived, the color was... off. Not dramatically. Just enough to clash with the client's existing millwork. $890 in redo costs plus a one-week delay.

My mistake: I trusted memory over a live sample.

How to make this work

The rule I now follow: Online works for color matching if and only if you have a physical memo sample in hand at the time of ordering. Not last week's sample. Not a photo on your phone. The actual fabric swatch, sitting on your desk, right now.

Kravet offers physical swatches for most of their upholstery fabrics (including Velvet Bow and their performance Crypton line). Order those first. Wait for them. Then order the yardage online.

Why? Because the convenience of online ordering combined with a physical reference eliminates the biggest risk: color variation between dye lots. The price is the same—or better—than going through a showroom.

Bottom line: Have a swatch in hand? Go ahead. Don't? Don't.

Scenario B: You're a volume buyer who knows the product

If you're ordering Kravet fabrics for repeat projects—maybe you're a furniture manufacturer or a hospitality designer—you already know what you're getting. You've touched it. You've tested it. You know how it behaves.

This is where online ordering really shines.

My experience with bulk orders

In Q1 2024, I placed a 200-yard order for Kravet's Sunbrella performance fabric for an outdoor dining venue. I'd used the exact same fabric for three previous projects. I knew the hand, the drape, the color accuracy.

Ordering online saved me about 3 days of back-and-forth with a showroom sales rep. Total cost? Same. Total time? Much less. No mistakes, no regrets.

The key advantage no one talks about

The real value of online ordering for repeat buyers isn't just convenience—it's inventory visibility. When you buy through a showroom, you're relying on them to check stock. When you order directly through an online Kravet fabric distributor, you see live inventory for many items (as of January 2025, major online suppliers show stock levels for Kravet's core lines: upholstery velvets, Crypton performance fabrics, and Sunbrella outdoor textiles).

That visibility alone has prevented three separate project delays for me. I could see a fabric was low-stock and pivoted to an alternative before my client even knew there was a problem.

Scenario C: You're a new designer (or a one-off project person)

This is the scenario most people assume online ordering is perfect for. It's not—unless you know what you're doing.

When I trained our junior designer in early 2024, he asked: "Can't I just buy Kravet fabric by the yard online? It's faster, right?"

The answer: faster, yes. But only if you avoid the rookie mistake.

The mistake almost everyone makes

Assuming 'online' means 'cheaper.' It doesn't. Kravet's prices are consistent across channels—showroom, online, or trade partner. The reason to buy online isn't price. It's convenience and speed.

But there's a catch: you can't ask questions. When you buy online, you don't have a sales rep who knows the difference between Velvet Bow (a standard velvet) and Velvet Video Waikiki (a performance velvet with Crypton treatment). If you order the wrong one because you misread the product spec—that's on you.

How to make this work for you

For first-time buyers or one-off projects, my recommendation hasn't changed since I started: buy a sample first, then order online. Kravet swatches are about $8–$12 each (pricing accessed December 2024). That's a tiny investment compared to a $600 order with the wrong hand, color, or performance spec.

If you don't want to wait for a swatch, find a local showroom that carries Kravet. Touch the fabric. Then order online. You pay the same price, but you avoid the 2-week disappointment cycle.

Scenario D (the hard no): When you need something custom or urgent

Here's where I'm most adamant: never order Kravet fabric online if you need custom specifications or next-week delivery.

I learned this in November 2023. A client needed 30 yards of a Kravet contract velvet for a corporate event. Custom width. Two-week deadline. I ordered online—figured it was faster. It wasn't. The order required a lead time of 18 business days plus shipping. We missed the deadline. The client used a competitor's fabric. Embarrassing.

Why online fails here

Standard online ordering works for standard products. Custom specs? Rush orders? You need a human. A showroom rep can check production schedules, negotiate lead times, and coordinate shipping. A website can't do that. Period.

If your project requires anything outside the standard product catalog—custom widths, special treatments, rush delivery—pick up the phone. Or walk into a showroom. Online ordering will only add stress.

Rule I live by now: Standard + familiar = online. Custom + unfamiliar = offline.

How to decide which scenario you're in

Here's a quick self-check. Answer three questions honestly:

1. Have you touched this exact fabric in the last 30 days? If yes → Scenario A or B. If no → Order a swatch first.
2. Do you need a custom spec or rush delivery? If yes → Scenario D. Go offline.
3. Are you buying for yourself or a client? For yourself (DIY project) → Scenario C is fine. For a client → Scenario A or B, with a swatch in hand.

That's it. Three questions. If you answered yes to 1 and no to 2, you're safe to buy Kravet fabric online. If not—take the extra step. It's worth it.

Final thought

The industry has evolved. Five years ago, I would have said never buy Kravet online. Now I say it depends. The fundamentals haven't changed—you still need to see the fabric. But the execution has. Better inventory systems, faster shipping, and more reliable color consistency make online a viable option for the right buyer in the right situation.

Just don't be like me in 2017. Don't assume. Ask the three questions. And for the love of good design, order the swatch first.