Kravet Fabric & Rug FAQ: What Designers Ask Me (and What They Should)

Kravet: What You're Actually Paying For

Over the past four years in fabric quality compliance (reviewing roughly 200+ unique upholstery and drapery items annually for our contract division), I've fielded a lot of designer questions about Kravet. The easy ones, the hard ones, and the ones they didn't know to ask.

Most buyers focus on the brand name and the price per yard. They miss the testing protocols, the batch consistency, and the simple fact that not all 'Kravet' is equal—depending on the collection, the mill, and the finish. Let's get into the specific questions I hear most often (plus a few I wish they'd ask).

1. Is Kravet Blue Fabric always the same shade across different product types?

Short answer: no. And this is the trap most people fall into.

I've had designers order Kravet blue velvet for a sofa and a Kravet blue rug for the same room, assuming a perfect match. The velvet is dyed to a specific yarn lot, while the rug (even if 'inspired by' the same palette) is a completely different dye process—yarn vs. fiber vs. print. They can look noticeably different under natural light (which, honestly, is where you live).

In our Q1 2024 audit, we flagged a batch of Kravet blue performance fabric where the dye lot shifted slightly between two production runs. Normal tolerance is about a half-step on the grey scale. The vendor said it was 'within industry standard.' We rejected it. The redo cost them—and the designer learned to order all yardage at once.

The better question: "Can you send me a physical cutting of the Kravet blue fabric and the rug side by side?" Don't rely on photos or memory. (Surprise, surprise—every monitor shows blue differently.)

2. Is Velvet Hippo actually durable enough for contract use?

Velvet Hippo gets a lot of buzz. It's a plush, cut velvet with a playful texture (think: high-low pile, not flat like velour). I get why people love the look—it's luxurious, tactile, and photographs beautifully.

But here's the catch: velvet, by its nature, has a directional nap. In high-traffic contract settings—think hospitality lobbies or corporate seating—this can show wear patterns faster than a flat weave or a tight twill. The pile compresses, and you get 'crush marks' (like the back of a well-loved couch).

Granted, Kravet does offer performance-grade velvet options (including Crypton-treated versions) that hold up better. In my experience, Velvet Hippo in a low-traffic residential or boutique hotel setting? Probably fine. For a 50,000-unit annual order for a national chain? I'd look at their contract-specific velvets instead. (Not that Velvet Hippo is bad—it's just a matter of matching expectations to use.)

3. Green Velvet Fabric Upholstery: Does it fade?

The question everyone asks: "Will this green velvet fade?" The question they should ask: "What's the lightfastness rating?"

Green is a tricky color. Many green dyes—especially deep forest or emerald tones—have lower lightfastness compared to neutral browns or grays. I'm not 100% sure, but I think this is because the chemical structure of certain green pigments breaks down faster under UV exposure (don't hold me to this, but it's a common issue in the industry).

For our contracts, we specify a minimum lightfastness of 40 hours for commercial interior fabrics. In 2023, we tested a green velvet upholstery sample that looked spectacular in the showroom—but after 25 hours of simulated sunlight, it was visibly washed out. The client hadn't asked. The rep hadn't volunteered.

What you can do: Ask for the specific AATCC 16.3 lightfastness rating (or ISO 105-B02) for any green velvet you're specifying. It's an easy question that most vendors can answer. If they hesitate (which, honestly, is a red flag), find a different fabric.

4. Is Rayon a Quality Fabric? (The short answer: it depends)

Rayon has a reputation problem. Some designers dismiss it as cheap or 'synthetic-light.' Others love its drape and absorbency. Who's right?

Technically, rayon is a semi-synthetic fabric made from regenerated cellulose (usually wood pulp). The quality varies wildly based on the manufacturing process and finishing. High-end viscose or modal rayon can feel silky and luxurious—think of designer dress linings or high-end bedding. Cheap rayon can pill, shrink, and lose shape after one wash.

For upholstery specifically: Rayon is rarely used as a standalone face fiber because it lacks abrasion resistance compared to nylon or polyester. You'll often see it blended—like rayon/polyester velvet or rayon/cotton blends. In those cases, the rayon adds softness and luster, while the synthetic fiber provides durability.

In my experience, a good quality rayon blend (think 50% rayon, 50% polyester in a tight weave) can perform well in low-traffic residential use. But if you're specifying for a commercial space, I'd stick with nylon or polypropylene blends—or at least demand Wyzenbeek or Martindale rub test results.

The vendor who said "this rayon blend is perfect for contract" without data? I asked for the test report. They couldn't provide one. (Surprise, surprise—it failed at 15,000 double rubs.) We moved on.

5. Are Kravet rugs made to the same standard as their upholstery fabrics?

In general, yes—Kravet maintains consistent quality across their product lines. Their rugs use wool, wool blends, and synthetic fibers, often with hand-tufted or machine-woven construction. The design and palette carry the same aesthetic DNA as their fabrics.

However, the testing standards differ. Upholstery fabrics undergo rigorous abrasion, seam slippage, and lightfastness testing for contract use. Rugs? They're tested for colorfastness to light and crocking (rubbing off), but the abrasion standards aren't as directly applicable—because a rug doesn't experience the same wear pattern as a seat cushion.

The one thing I'd warn about: Kravet rugs can vary in pile height and density between production batches. We once ordered a runner for a hotel corridor, and the second batch had a noticeably looser weave. The color was identical (thankfully), but the texture felt different underfoot. We had to accept a partial discount rather than reject the whole order—because the deadline was tight, and the client needed it yesterday.

That said, Kravet's rug division has good customer service. If you have a quality concern, they'll work with you. But I learned never to assume the proof represents the final product—always request a production sample from the actual batch.

6. How do I know if I'm getting genuine Kravet vs. a look-alike?

This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised. I've seen 'Kravet-inspired' fabric sold at steep discounts online, often using similar color names or pattern descriptions. The real thing will have a specific SKU (e.g., 12345/678), a manufacturer label on the selvage edge, and—if you buy from an authorized showroom—a paper hangtag or digital certificate of authenticity.

If you're buying by the yard from a secondary marketplace (e.g., eBay, Etsy, or a random discount site), ask for the SKU and the original packaging. The vendor who can't provide either? Red flag. I'd rather pay more from an authorized source than end up with a knockoff that fails after six months.

Bottom line: Kravet is a premium brand. Their quality control is generally excellent—but no brand is perfect. The difference is how they handle problems. In my experience, if you have a legitimate quality issue (like a dye lot mismatch or a defect), Kravet's compliance team will make it right. But it helps to know what to ask for upfront.

Prices and availability as of January 2025; verify current rates and inventory with your Kravet showroom or sales rep.