Kravet Fabric NYC: Your FAQ Guide to Bulk Buying & Showroom Access

Quick Answers for Sourcing Kravet Fabrics in NYC

If you’re managing a hotel renovation, an office fit-out, or a large-scale residential project, you probably have a lot of questions about ordering Kravet fabrics. I’ve been the person responsible for making these purchases for the last five years, and I can tell you the biggest hurdle isn’t the fabric—it’s the process. This FAQ covers what I wish I knew when I started managing our $50k annual spend on contract textiles.

What makes Kravet fabric different from other to-the-trade brands?

The short answer is the breadth of the collection and the performance guarantee. When I say breadth, I mean they have everything from a heavy-duty Crypton for a hotel lobby to a delicate velvet for a high-end residential dining room. What I learned the hard way was that “luxury” doesn’t always mean “fragile.” Their contract-grade line is genuinely built for heavy use. We spec’ed a Kravet chenille for 400 guest chairs in a boutique hotel three years ago, and it’s still holding up. Not a single claim for seam slippage. That’s where the value lives.

(Should mention: I'm not a textile engineer, so I can't speak to the molecular makeup of the fibers. From a procurement perspective, the durability-to-cost ratio is the strongest I've seen for a luxury line.)

Can I buy Kravet fabric by the yard online without a trade account?

No, you can't. That was my initial misjudgment when I started. I assumed a brand with a strong online presence would have a direct-to-consumer shop. They don’t. Kravet operates a strict to-the-trade model. You need to be a designer, an architect, or a specifier with a resale certificate or a trade license. For business buyers like us, this means we go through a showroom or an authorized dealer.

The trigger event that taught me this was a $1,200 order of heart mesh fabric I tried to place directly on their website. The order just sat in limbo for three days until a showroom in the D&D Building called me to verify our credentials. I felt like an idiot—but now I know the system.

Where can I see Kravet fabric samples in NYC?

The flagship showroom is in the D&D Building (979 Third Avenue), but for Kravet fabric NYC inventory, the New York Design Center (200 Lexington Avenue) also carries a massive selection. Don't just go to the D&D. The NYDC showroom has a better setup for contract buyers—they have a dedicated lighting station where you can view blue fabric for upholstery under different color temps. That might sound excessive, but when you’re matching 200 yards of navy velvet to a corporate logo, it’s essential.

I should add that the staff at the D&D are more oriented toward interior designers. If you show up with a construction vest and a spec book, go to the NYDC. They’re used to commercial quotes.

What is the minimum yardage for a contract order?

This is where the small_friendly position comes in. Officially, Kravet’s contract division doesn't have a published minimum order quantity (MOQ for stock goods). They’ll sell you a single yard of a stock upholstery fabric. But—and this is a big but—for custom dye lots or special weaves (like matching a specific Pantone), you are looking at a 50-100 yard minimum per color.

When I was starting a small hotel project, I needed just 30 yards of a specific velvet vs velveteen comparison. Most reps were dismissive. But one showroom took my $600 order seriously because I had a clear timeline. That vendor now handles our annual purchasing for the parent company. Small doesn't mean unimportant—it means potential.

Velvet vs. Velveteen: Which is better for commercial use?

This is a question I get a lot from our design team. Here is the honest breakdown based on three years of cleaning bills.

• Velvet (e.g., Kravet Couture Velvet): Typically 100% cotton or silk. Incredible color saturation. Looks high-end. But it crushes. We had a velvet bench in a reception area that looked like a cat slept on it after four months. It needs regular steaming.
• Velveteen: Cotton or cotton-poly blend. Shorter pile, more durable. It has a slightly less formal look—think more “classic club chair” and less “Beverly Hills penthouse.” For a high-traffic upholstery fabric application, I’d pick velveteen every time.

For a performance spec, look at their Crypton velveteen. It’s about 15-20% more expensive than standard cotton velveteen, but it doesn't stain. My rule of thumb: If there's a chance of coffee, use velveteen. If it’s strictly for drama, use velvet. Actually, that’s too binary. Use velveteen with a high rub count (Martindale > 40,000) for seating. Use velvet for backdrops and wall panels.

How do I handle rush orders for Kravet contract fabrics?

I think of rush fees as “stupid tax” for bad planning. Kravet offers a “Quick Ship” program for select Crypton fabric and velvets, which turns around in 5-7 business days. For anything custom, standard lead times are 4-6 weeks. If you want it faster, you are paying a 25-50% premium.

We had a project in 2024 where the client changed the design after we ordered. The 30 yards of heart mesh fabric we had already paid for was useless. We had to reorder a different color in a rush. The setup fee was waived because we had a standing relationship, but the per-yard price jumped by 30%. I'd add that if you are doing an accelerated project, order the performance fabric sample first. It cuts the guesswork in half.

What is the pricing range for Kravet upholstery fabrics?

This is sensitive because prices change quarterly, but based on quotes from Q4 2024:

• Entry-level contract Crypton: $45-75/yard (bulk pricing for 50+ yards)
• Mid-range velvet/velveteen: $70-120/yard
• High-end Couture/Mark Alexander: $150-300+/yard

Note: These are trade prices. The retail markup is usually 30-50% higher. If you are buying through a dealer, ask about “contract pricing” versus “to-the-trade pricing.” The difference can be $15-20 a yard.

Any final advice on buying Kravet in bulk?

Don't just call the showroom and ask for “the cheapest blue blue fabric for upholstery.” Walk in with your project spec. Tell them the end use (lobby, guest room, office). They have a database of which fabrics have the best fire ratings and abrasion test results. They saved me from buying a beautiful linen that would have been destroyed in a month.

Oh, and get a signed quote. Not an email estimate—a formal quote with the price lock duration. I learned that lesson after a quote expired and the price increased by 8% while we waited for client approval.