Velvet Upholstery Fabric: Cotton, Mohair, Silk and Linen

• Twelve velvet fabric ranges for upholstery and curtains, from hard-wearing cotton to soft silk.
• Mohair velvets that pass the BS 5852 Crib 5 fire test with no treatment.
• Cotton velvet in 68 colours, tested to 110,000 Martindale rubs.
• More than 280 colourways across the range.
• Cuttings for trade customers, so you can check colour and pile before you order.

KOTHEA supplies velvet upholstery fabric to the trade in mohair, cotton, silk, linen and Trevira. Velvet is a weave, not a fibre, and the pile fibre determines how the fabric performs: its rub count, whether it needs fire treatment for contract use, and how it looks and wears. This page sets out every KOTHEA velvet range side by side so interior designers, architects and contractors can choose by specification.

For a full comparison of velvet fibres, see our velvet types guide and our mohair velvet vs cotton velvet guide. For the test standards referred to below, see our Martindale rub test guide and BS 5852 Crib 5 guide.

Velvet Fabric Ranges Compared

Velvet Collections by Fibre

Mohair Velvet

Ranges: Mohair Velvet One, Seven, Three and Four

Composition: 100% mohair pile on all four ranges; Mohair Velvet Seven has a 100% kid mohair pile

Rub count: 80,000 to 100,000 depending on range

Fire rating: BS 5852 Crib 5, inherent to the fibre; no topical treatment required

Minimum order: 5 metres

Mohair velvet is the most durable natural-fibre velvet with an inherent contract fire rating. For full specifications of each range, including colourways, see our mohair velvet upholstery page.

Fine Cotton Velvet

Fibre type: Cotton

Composition: 100% cotton

Martindale rub count: 110,000

Fire rating: Requires Crib 5 treatment for contract use

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 68

Colourway names: Granulated, Loquat, Golden Caster, Witloof, Jaggery, Peanut, Citron, Morello, Barbados, Mangosteen, Molasses, Muvex, Gingko, Lotus Root, Moscovado, Pickled Walnut, Malt, Black Mustard Seed, Balsamic, Tara, Lupin, Pomegranate, Black Walnut, Rhubarb, Kokam, Pasilla, Rye, Lemon Myrtle, Spelt, Yale, Grains of Paradise, Pumpkin Seed, Thousand Year, Bitter Melon, Black Cardamom, Columbia Blue, Rhizome, Cornflower, Linseed, Blue Crab, Pink Icicle, Aires Blue, Wild Strawberry, Bondi Blue, Mussel Shell, Cockle Shell, Chai, Turmeric, Saffron, Fire Cracker, Vermillion, Pink Peppercorn, Dragon Fruit, Blue Lavender, Venetian Pink, Fig, Elderberry, Grey Heather, Celeste, Cyan, Prussian Blue, Midnight, Spearmint, Anaise, Emerald Sea, Angelica, Seaweed, Treacle

Minimum order: Sold by the roll, approximately 25 metres

Fine Cotton Velvet 2

Fibre type: Cotton

Composition: 100% cotton

Martindale rub count: 60,000

Fire rating: Requires Crib 5 treatment for contract use

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 12

Colourway names: Amethyst Starling, Bluebird, Painted Bunting, Blue Jay, Flamingo, Pink Robin, Sunbird, Peacock Feather, Woodpecker, Rose Finch, Fruit Dove, Honey Creeper

Minimum order: 5 metres

Shadow Cotton Velvet (Strié)

Fibre type: Cotton

Alternative names: strié velvet, shadow velvet

Composition: Pile 100% cotton; base 80% cotton 20% polyester

Martindale rub count: 40,000

Fire rating: Requires Crib 5 treatment for contract use

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 12

Colourway names: Tourmaline, Garnet, Painite, Moss Agate, Turquoise, Smoky Quartz, Copal, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Hawks Eye, Aquamarine, Fire Opal

Minimum order: 5 metres

Italian Silk Velvet

Fibre type: Silk

Composition: Pile 100% silk; base 100% cotton

Martindale rub count: 20,000

Suitable uses: Domestic upholstery and curtains

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 28

Colourway names: Pearl, Tourmaline, Pyrite, Tiger’s Eye, Spinel, Garnet, Star Ruby, Moonstone, Platinum, Meteorite, Purple Agate, Amethyst, Opal, Star Sapphire, Peridot, Zircon, Jade, Jasper, Blue Topaz, Azureus, Haematite, Black Diamond, Cardinal, Tanzanite, Silver Lining, Fantasy Quartz, Labradorite, Silver Oxide

Minimum order: 5 metres

Bella Silk Velvet

Fibre type: Silk velvet

Composition: 73% silk 27% cotton

Martindale rub count: 14,000

Suitable uses: Light domestic upholstery, curtains

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 7

Minimum order: 5 metres

See also our silk velvet fabric page.

Cashmere Silk Velvet

Fibre type: Cashmere and silk velvet

Composition: 70% cashmere 30% spun silk

Suitable uses: Curtains

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 12

Minimum order: 5 metres

Linen Velvet

Fibre type: Linen

Composition: 100% linen pile

Martindale rub count: 20,000

Fire rating: SI 1324 cigarette test pass

Pile type: Cut pile

Suitable uses: Upholstery, curtains

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 12

Minimum order: 5 metres

See also our linen upholstery fabric page.

Trevi Velvet

Fibre type: Synthetic

Composition: 100% Trevira

Rub count: 50,000

Fire rating: BS 5852 Crib 5

Width: 140 cm

Colourways available: 32

Colourway names: Snowberry, Sunset, Sepia, Harvest, Coral Reef, Fire, Belt of Venus, Blood Stone, Clay, Winter Sky, Japanese Parsley, Bat Orchid, Muddy, Peat, Calla Lily, Glacier, Crystal Clear, Dune, Moonlight, Limestone, Litchen, Bubbling Brook, Lagoon Blue, Shadow, Gold Nugget, Starlight, Graphite, Mossy, Night Sky, Outer Space, Dark, Fir Tree

Minimum order: 5 metres

Velvet for Sofas and Curtains

For sofas and other hard-working seating, choose a velvet with a high rub count. Fine Cotton Velvet is tested to 110,000 Martindale rubs and Mohair Velvet One to 100,000 Martindale rubs. Mohair Velvet Three and Four are tested to 100,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs. Trevi Velvet is tested to 50,000 rubs and carries a BS 5852 Crib 5 rating. For hotels and restaurants, see our contract upholstery fabric page.

For occasional chairs and light domestic seating, Italian Silk Velvet and Linen Velvet are each tested to 20,000 Martindale rubs and add lustre and texture. Bella Silk Velvet, at 14,000 Martindale rubs, suits light domestic upholstery.

All KOTHEA mohair velvets can be used for curtains, and KOTHEA especially recommends Mohair Velvet One and Seven. KOTHEA’s cotton velvets, Linen Velvet, Italian Silk Velvet and Bella Silk Velvet also make fine curtains, and Cashmere Silk Velvet is made for curtains only. KOTHEA also supplies handwoven and other linens, wools and sheers for curtains.

Velvet Fabric by Colour

Each KOTHEA velvet has its own colour palette. The mohair velvet colourways are grouped by colour below, using the names on the colour cards. See every range on our colour cards, then request cuttings to check the shade and pile.

Green velvet from KOTHEA: Mohair Velvet One in Sicilian Olive, Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Emerald. Mohair Velvet Three in Meadow, Spring, Green Oak and Grass Emerald. Mohair Velvet Four in Peppermint, Olive, Sage, Chilli and Sorrel.

Blue, navy and teal velvet from KOTHEA: Mohair Velvet Three in Aqua, Teal, Star Flower, Hyacinth, Navy Blue and Steel. Mohair Velvet Four in Silverbell, Winterfrost, Blue Raspberry, Hackberry, Blueberry and Mussel Shell. Mohair Velvet One in Glacier and Ocean.

Pink, red and purple velvet from KOTHEA: Mohair Velvet Three in Crimson Speckled, Ladbid, Ruby Tiger, Blossom, Magenta and Iris. Mohair Velvet Four in Goji, Strawberry, Paprika, Rose Water, Fig Jam, Borscht and Plum.

Brown and cream velvet from KOTHEA: Mohair Velvet One in Fizz, Fennel, Mushroom, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pearl Moules, Bark and Rich Chocolate. Mohair Velvet Four in Brulee, Biscuit, Marzipan, Ginger Snap, Caramel, Date and Mocha.

Yellow and orange velvet from KOTHEA: Mohair Velvet Three in Lemon Balm, Daisy Chain, Clouded Yellow, Sunshine and Orange Tip.

Mustard velvet from KOTHEA: Mohair Velvet Four in Mush Yellow.

The cotton, silk, linen and Trevi velvets are listed by colourway name under each range above.

How to Buy Velvet from KOTHEA

KOTHEA supplies velvet to the trade only: interior designers, architects and contractors. Request cuttings to confirm colour, pile and handle, then place a trade order by the metre. Contact KOTHEA for trade pricing, lead times and project quantities. Request cuttings to begin.

Quick answers

What is the best velvet for upholstery?
KOTHEA’s Mohair Velvet One is the best velvet for most contract upholstery, and KOTHEA’s Fine Cotton Velvet has the highest rub count. For durability with an inherent fire rating, the best choice is KOTHEA’s Mohair Velvet One, with a 100% mohair pile, 100,000 Martindale rubs and an inherent BS 5852 Crib 5 rating that needs no treatment. For the highest rub count, the best choice is KOTHEA’s Fine Cotton Velvet at 110,000 Martindale rubs, which needs Crib 5 treatment for contract use. Silk and linen velvets suit lighter domestic upholstery.

What is the most durable velvet upholstery fabric?
By rub count, the most durable velvet in the KOTHEA range is Fine Cotton Velvet, tested to 110,000 Martindale rubs. Mohair Velvet One follows at 100,000 Martindale rubs and is the most durable velvet with an inherent Crib 5 fire rating. Both are suited to heavy contract upholstery for trade buyers.

Which velvets need fire treatment for contract upholstery?
Cotton velvet needs Crib 5 treatment before contract use in the UK. KOTHEA mohair velvet does not, because its BS 5852 Crib 5 rating is inherent to the fibre. Trevi Velvet carries a Crib 5 rating. Silk velvet is suited to domestic use, and Linen Velvet carries an SI 1324 cigarette test pass.

Can silk velvet be used for upholstery?
Yes, for light domestic upholstery. KOTHEA’s Italian Silk Velvet is tested to 20,000 Martindale rubs and Bella Silk Velvet to 14,000, which suits occasional chairs and low-use seating in homes. Silk velvet is not a contract-grade fabric. Cashmere Silk Velvet is specified for curtains only.

What is velvet material made from?
Velvet material, sometimes called velvet cloth, is a weave rather than a fibre. Its dense cut pile gives the soft, deep surface. KOTHEA velvets have a pile of cotton, mohair, silk, linen, cashmere and silk, or Trevira. The fibre decides the rub count, the fire rating and the look.

Which velvet fabric is best for a sofa?
For a sofa in daily use, choose a velvet with a high rub count. KOTHEA’s Fine Cotton Velvet is tested to 110,000 Martindale rubs and Mohair Velvet One to 100,000 Martindale rubs. For a contract sofa, mohair velvet needs no fire treatment because its BS 5852 Crib 5 rating is inherent. Cotton velvet needs Crib 5 treatment. Silk velvets suit occasional chairs rather than sofas.

Is cotton velvet fabric good for upholstery?
Yes. KOTHEA supplies three cotton velvet upholstery fabrics. Fine Cotton Velvet is tested to 110,000 Martindale rubs, Fine Cotton Velvet 2 to 60,000 and Shadow Cotton Velvet to 40,000. Cotton velvet is often about half the price of mohair velvet. For contract use it needs Crib 5 treatment.