Romo Fabrics: 8 Questions Every Cost-Conscious Buyer Should Ask (Before You Order)

Everything you wanted to know about ordering Romo fabrics—but were afraid to ask (because it might sound dumb)

Look, I've been managing procurement for a mid-size upholstery shop for about 6 years now. We order a fair amount of high-end fabrics—Romo included. And when I first started, I made some expensive mistakes. Real talk: I wish someone had just sat me down and answered the basic questions. The ones you're probably Googling right now. So here goes.

1. What's the actual difference between Romo and 'The Romo Group'? Does it matter for my order?

It matters more than I thought when I started. The Romo Group is the parent company. They own Romo (the main brand you know), but also Kirkby Design, Arthur Sanderson & Sons, Scion, and a few others. From a procurement perspective, this matters because availability, lead times, and even pricing can vary depending on which line you're ordering. In Q2 2024, we had a client who fell in love with a Kirkby Design pattern—but we'd been dealing with a supplier who mostly stocked Romo's main line. It took an extra 3 weeks to source it (and a slightly different discount structure). So bottom line: yes, know which sub-brand you're looking at before you get too attached.

2. The Romo logo—is it always on the selvedge? And do I need to worry about that?

Pretty much, yes. The Romo logo is printed on the selvedge edge of the fabric. For most upholstery work, it's a non-issue—you cut it off or it's hidden. But here's the thing I learned the hard way: if you're doing any project where the selvedge might be visible (like a small panel or a piece where you use the full width), you need to account for that when you calculate your yardage. I had a project in 2023 where we ordered 12 yards of a Romo velvet, and the client's design had a seam that fell right on the selvedge. We had to buy an extra 2 yards just to work around it. Nobody tells you that upfront.

3. Is Romo 'worth it' for a commercial project? Or am I just paying for the name?

If you ask me, the name is part of it—but not in a bad way. For a corporate lobby or a high-end hotel, the Romo name carries weight with clients. It's a shorthand for quality. But from a pure cost perspective... I was skeptical too. In 2022, I compared Romo's contract-grade velvet to a mid-tier alternative for a 40-seat restaurant. Romo was about 30% more per yard. But after 18 months, the Romo fabric looked noticeably better—less pilling, less fading. The 'cheaper' option already needed replacement in the high-traffic booths. So the total cost of ownership (TCO) was actually lower for Romo. I didn't expect that.

4. What about Romo outdoor fabrics—are they really different from indoor?

Yes, and the difference is in the construction, not just the marketing. Romo's outdoor range uses solution-dyed acrylics and has specific UV-resistant backing. I know, that sounds like marketing fluff—I thought so too. Then in Q3 2023, we specified an indoor fabric for a covered patio (big mistake). It faded in 4 months. We replaced it with Romo's outdoor line and 18 months later, it still looks good. The catch? The outdoor fabrics have a different hand feel—a bit less soft, more technical. So you can't just swap them 1:1. The client needs to know upfront that it will feel different.

The price difference was real, though

Romo outdoor fabrics run about 15-25% more than their indoor equivalents. But the replacement cost of doing it wrong? That's 100% of your original cost, plus labor, plus client dissatisfaction. From my spreadsheets, it's a no-brainer for any project with direct sunlight or weather exposure.

5. How do I check if a Romo fabric is in stock? (And what do I do when it's not?)

This is the question that's cost me the most time. Most Romo stockists have online inventory, but it's not always real-time. I've learned to call. And I mean actually call a person, not just check a website. In 2024, our website said a specific Romo wallcovering had 20 rolls in stock. We ordered for a 5,000 sq ft office. Turned out the system hadn't updated—they had 2 rolls. The rest was on backorder for 6 weeks. We had to switch the entire spec. So here's my rule: for any order over 10 rolls or 50 yards, I verify stock by phone, and I ask for the 'available to promise' date, not just the 'due in' date. They're often different.

6. What about minimum orders and cut yardage? I don't want to buy a full roll.

This one depends heavily on your supplier. Romo themselves may have minimums for direct orders, but most distributors offer cut yardage. In my experience, you can usually get as little as 1 yard for samples or small projects. The catch is pricing: per-yard cost on a cut piece is probably 10-20% higher than on a full roll. For our shop, we buy full rolls of our top 5-10 Romo upholstery fabrics and only cut yardage for the one-off projects. Keeps the per-yard cost down without tying up too much cash in inventory.

7. 'Satin pattern fabric'—I found a Romo satin I love. Are satins hard to work with?

Short answer: yes, but not impossible. Satins have a weave that reflects light differently—that's why they look shiny and smooth. The trade-off is that they can show wear patterns (like flattening on seat cushions) faster than a textured weave. I've seen this in a few residential projects where the client wanted that luxurious look. After 2 years, the sofa cushions looked 'polished' in the middle—the satin weave had compressed. The client wasn't thrilled. So if you're set on a satin fabric, use it on vertical surfaces or low-traffic pieces. For high-use seating, Romo's velvet or a textured weave will hold up better. My 2 cents.

8. Last one: 'Black velvet couch'—everyone asks for it. Is Romo's black velvet decent?

Romo makes several black velvets, and they're generally good. The issue I've run into isn't the quality, it's the logistics. Black is the most popular color. It's also the most likely to be on backorder. In Q4 2023, we had a 3-week delay on a black Romo velvet for a 50-unit apartment lobby. Everyone wanted the same thing at the same time. So if you're planning a black velvet project, order early. And get a backup color approved by your client upfront. Saves you a headache later.

The other thing about black velvet? It shows everything. Dust, pet hair, lint. One client told me their black velvet sofa was 'like a magnet for my cat's hair.' That's not a Romo problem—that's a velvet problem. But worth mentioning because nobody thinks about maintenance when they see that gorgeous swatch.

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Pricing is for general reference only. Actual prices vary by vendor, specifications, and time of order. Verify current rates with your supplier.