Contract Upholstery Fabric for Hospitality and Marine

• Fabrics made for hotels, restaurants, bars, offices and yachts.
• Mohair velvet, a goat wool with natural fire retardancy, that passes Crib 5 with no treatment.
• Rub counts up to more than 200,000 Martindale.
• Advice on fire ratings, rub counts and colour fastness for your project.

KOTHEA supplies contract upholstery fabric to interior designers, architects and contractors: mohair velvet, cotton velvet, Trevira velvet, faux leather and wool, each with a published rub count and fire rating.

Demanding environments must encompass beautiful fabrics. Style can surpass the exacting standards expected for Fire Rating (FR).

Our understanding of the environments in which our fabrics are used has enabled us to bring designers a true aesthetic choice, whilst adhering to detailed and comprehensive usage requirements.

Our Contract Fabric Service

As part of our service we are able to advise on the suitability of any of our fabrics for specific uses including Martindale rub test results, Crib 5 fire certification, and colour fastness.

For a complete guide to specifying fabric for hotel and hospitality projects, including Martindale thresholds by room type, BS 7176 fire certification, cleaning regime compatibility, and dye lot strategy, see: How to Specify Fabric for Hotel and Hospitality Projects. A downloadable specification checklist is also available from that page.

For contract-grade ranges by fabric type, see our velvet upholstery fabric, faux leather upholstery, linen upholstery fabric and textured upholstery fabric pages.

For fabric sustainability certifications — GOTS, Oeko-Tex, and the Responsible Wool Standard — see our fabric sustainability certifications guide. For fabric specification in healthcare environments, see our healthcare fabric guide. For fabric decisions at each RIBA Plan of Work stage, see our RIBA Plan of Work fabric guide.

Contract Fabrics by Type

For marine projects, several ranges carry IMO certification. Contact KOTHEA to confirm which ranges suit your vessel, and see our IMO fire standards guide.

What Makes a Fabric Contract Grade

A contract fabric is chosen for how it performs, not where it is sold. For UK contract seating, check three things.

Rub count: 40,000 Martindale rubs is the standard threshold for hotels, restaurants and offices. See our Martindale rub test guide.

Fire rating: UK contract seating is normally specified to BS 5852 Crib 5, and some projects need BS 7176. See our Crib 5 guide.

Cleaning: Cleaning codes vary by range. Contact KOTHEA for the code for the range you are specifying, and see our guide to upholstery cleaning codes.

Quick answers

Can I buy contract fabric from KOTHEA?
Yes. KOTHEA supplies contract-grade upholstery and curtain fabric to the trade: interior designers, architects, and contractors. The range covers mohair velvet, faux leather, linen, and textured weaves rated to BS 5852 Crib 5, BS 7176, or IMO as required. To buy, request cuttings to confirm colour and specification, then place a trade order by the metre. Contact KOTHEA for a quotation, lead times, and to open a trade account.

How do I specify and order contract fabric for a project?
Confirm the fire rating, Martindale or Wyzenbeek rub count, and cleaning code required for the environment, then request cuttings of the ranges that meet the specification. KOTHEA can advise on suitability for hospitality, office, healthcare, and marine applications. Once confirmed, place a trade order for the required quantity, reserving a single dye lot for larger or phased orders. KOTHEA supplies to the trade only.

What is contract upholstery fabric?
Contract upholstery fabric is made for commercial seating in hotels, restaurants, bars, offices and other public spaces. It has a high rub count, typically 40,000 Martindale or more, and a contract fire rating such as BS 5852 Crib 5. KOTHEA supplies contract fabric to the trade only.

What rub count does contract upholstery fabric need?
40,000 Martindale rubs is the standard threshold for contract seating in hotels, restaurants and offices. Very heavy use, such as transport seating, calls for 100,000 or more. KOTHEA’s Fine Cotton Velvet is tested to 110,000 Martindale rubs and Faux Leather 3 to over 200,000.

Which KOTHEA contract fabrics need no fire treatment?
KOTHEA’s mohair velvets pass BS 5852 Crib 5 with no treatment, because mohair, a goat wool, is naturally fire retardant. Trevi Velvet, Faux Leather 3 and Bobbly Wool 2 carry Crib 5 ratings. Contact KOTHEA to confirm whether a rating is inherent or applied. Cotton velvet needs Crib 5 treatment for contract use.

Related specification guides: contract curtain fabric specification, the Building Safety Act and fabric specification, how to write a fabric specification, fabric specification glossary and fabric for poolside and spa environments.