Kravet Fabrics: 7 Questions Designers Ask About Rush Orders, Ralph Lauren Collections, and Performance Materials

Kravet Fabrics: What Designers Really Need to Know

If you're a designer sourcing for a high-end residential or commercial project, you've probably run into Kravet's name. And if you've run into a deadline, you've probably run into questions about their rush capabilities, their textile partnerships, and what the hell "jersey" feels like on a sofa.

I field these questions pretty regularly in my role coordinating urgent textile orders for hospitality and luxury residential clients. Based on our internal data from 200+ rush jobs, here are the seven questions I hear most—and the answers I wish I'd had years ago.

1. Can I get a rush order on Kravet fabrics? Like, a real rush?

Yes, but here's the catch: Kravet's standard turnaround for in-stock upholstery is usually 5–7 business days. If you need it faster, you're looking at their "quick ship" program, which is a curated selection of performance fabrics (Crypton, Sunbrella) and some solid basics. Those can ship in 2–3 days. But if you're ordering a specific Ralph Lauren linen from their archives? That's not going to happen in under a week.

I learned this the hard way in March 2024. A client at a boutique hotel called at 4:30 PM on a Thursday needing 120 yards of a specific Ralph Lauren fabric for a lobby refresh that was supposed to wrap Monday morning. The sample room said it was in stock. The warehouse system didn't update until the next day. We paid $600 in rush fees and still missed the deadline by 30 hours. The client's opening event was delayed three weeks. That's a $40,000 penalty in lost revenue.

My advice? If you're on a tight timeline, stick to Kravet's quick ship list. Ask your sales rep for the current PDF—it changes quarterly.

2. What's the deal with Ralph Lauren fabrics at Kravet? Are they actually different?

Yeah, this confuses people. Ralph Lauren doesn't manufacture their own fabric—Kravet has been the licensed manufacturer and distributor for Ralph Lauren Home fabrics for something like 20 years. So when a designer orders "Ralph Lauren fabrics Kravet," they're getting the same thing. The Ralph Lauren line is known for its classic, American style—tartans, tweeds, wool plaids, and really well-constructed velvet. But don't expect cutting-edge performance technology. Most of the RL line is beautiful but traditional; it's not going to be stain-resistant out of the box.

A designer I worked with last year spent two weeks choosing an RL plaid for a family room sofa. Beautiful fabric. The client's toddler spilled red wine on it within a month. We had to have the sofa professionally cleaned at a cost of $350. The client wasn't happy, and honestly, I should've flagged the lack of a performance coating upfront. That's a lesson I won't forget.

3. Can Kravet handle upholstery for a whole building or a large-scale commercial project?

Yes, but not all Kravet dealers are set up for it. Their contract division—Kravet Contract—specializes in large-volume, performance-driven orders for hospitality, healthcare, and corporate spaces. If you're doing a hotel chain with 300 rooms, you don't want to order from a residential showroom. You want the contract team, because they understand fire codes, abrasion ratings (Wyzenbeek and Martindale), and lead times that align with construction schedules.

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the first quote is rarely the final price for ongoing relationships. We've negotiated 15–25% discounts on repeat contract orders with consistent volume. It's not advertised, but it's there. If your rep says they can't discount, ask to speak with the contract sales manager.

4. I keep hearing about textile breweries in Dyersville, Iowa. What's that about?

You're thinking of Textile Brewery in Dyersville, Iowa. It's a niche operation that's become something of a legend in the Midwest design scene. They don't do Kravet specifically, but they're known for small-batch, custom-dyed upholstery fabrics for restoration and period-specific projects. Think Victorian reproductions and mid-century wool blends. If you need a fabric that matches a specific historical color swatch and you can't find it in Kravet's 500,000 SKUs, Textile Brewery is who you call.

But fair warning: their lead times are long—usually 8–12 weeks. I used them once for a client's historical home restoration. The result was beautiful, but the client was not thrilled about waiting three months for drapes. If you're on a deadline, this is not your option.

5. Can Kravet supply high-performance materials like Kevlar and Nomex?

Kevlar and Nomex are specialty materials used for fire-resistant and high-durability applications—think protective clothing for firefighters, industrial gear, or theatrical curtains that need to meet strict flame codes. Kravet doesn't stock these as a standard product category, but they can often source them through their contract or hospitality division. However, don't expect a roll of Kevlar upholstery in a standard texture.

The question everyone asks is: "Do you have a fire-resistant fabric?" The question they should ask is: "What's the NFPA 701 rating on this specific roll?" Because the rating can vary by colorway and batch. I had a project in early 2023 where we ordered 500 yards of a contract-grade polyester for a hotel lobby. The sample had passed the burn test. The production lot didn't. We ended up paying $4,000 for an independent testing lab to verify the next batch. Worth every penny.

6. What is jersey fabric like? I keep seeing it in Kravet's modern collections.

Jersey fabric is a knit, not a weave. Think of it like the material of a comfortable T-shirt but engineered for upholstery. It stretches, drapes, and feels soft against the skin. Kravet's jersey fabrics are often blends of polyester, rayon, and spandex. They're popular for modern, minimalist furniture where you want the fabric to follow the curves of the frame without wrinkles or puckering.

But here's what most buyers miss: jersey's stretch makes it harder to install. A standard upholsterer who's used to working with rigid woven fabrics can really mess it up. I've seen jobs where the fabric was stretched too tight, causing it to pucker at the seams—or too loose, creating a saggy look. If you're specifying jersey, make sure your upholsterer has experience with knits. Otherwise, you're looking at reupholstery costs that can double the project budget.

7. Why do some Kravet rush orders cost so much more than others?

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure the pricing logic is consistent. I've seen a $1,500 rush surcharge on a $4,000 fabric order, and a $200 surcharge on a similar order from a different product line. My best guess is it comes down to how much buffer the production facility has at that moment. If the mill has slack in the schedule, they can squeeze you in for less. If they're running at capacity, you're paying a premium to cut someone else's line.

What I do know: standard rush fees range from 25% to 100% of the base price, depending on the product and timeline. As of January 2025, Kravet's stated rush premium for next-business-day delivery is 75% on most in-stock items. But I've paid as low as 30% by calling and asking if there's any flexibility. It's not guaranteed, but it never hurts to ask. The worst they can say is no.

One final piece of advice: don't rely on a single source. If you absolutely need fabric by a date, order a sample of the production roll (not just a memo sample), and triple-check the ship date with your rep. I've seen too many designers trust the first estimate and regret it. An informed customer asks better questions and makes faster decisions.