So you're looking into Raymond fabrics for your business?

Here's the thing — I manage purchasing for a mid-sized furniture manufacturer, roughly $1.2M annually across 8 vendors. I've been at this since 2018, and Raymond comes up a lot. Not always for the reasons you'd expect.

This FAQ covers what I actually get asked, plus a few things most buyers don't think to ask until it's too late.

1. What exactly is Raymond known for in the fabric world?

Raymond isn't a single-product house. They're known for variety — upholstery, outdoor, bedding, apparel fabrics. Cotton, linen, viscose, nylon, polyester, modal, performance blends — they do a lot. Honestly, that breadth is both the strength and the challenge.

I've seen buyers assume Raymond is *just* suiting or *just* upholstery. Not true. They have decorative, technical, and specialty fabrics. (Should mention: their performance fabrics — waterproof, antimicrobial, UV-resistant — are where I've seen the most value for contract work.)

That said — most buyers focus on price per yard and completely miss the variety. The question everyone asks is 'what's your best price?' The question they should ask is 'what's included in that price — and what's the lead time for specialty orders?'

2. Is Raymond fabric good for outdoor upholstery?

Short answer: yes, with caveats. Raymond's outdoor fabric line includes solution-dyed acrylics and treated polyesters that hold up to sun and moisture — not all of them, but the ones labeled 'performance' or 'outdoor' specifically.

Here's the catch: UV resistance isn't infinite. I learned this in 2022 when a client's outdoor cushions faded after 18 months. The fabric was technically outdoor-rated, but the color wasn't solution-dyed. Now I always ask: 'Is this solution-dyed or piece-dyed?' Solution-dyed holds color longer, but costs more upfront.

Industry standard for outdoor fabric UV resistance? Most reputable mills target 500+ hours of Xenon-arc testing. Raymond's performance line meets that — but verify for the specific SKU. (Honestly, I'm not sure why some mills don't label this clearly. My best guess is it varies by production batch.)

3. How does Raymond compare to other B2B fabric suppliers?

I won't name names — that's not my style — but here's what I've observed across 8 vendors I manage:

• Raymond's breadth is wider than most. One stop for upholstery, bedding, and apparel fabrics.
• Their minimums for custom orders? Not the lowest, not the highest. Expect 500-1000 yards per SKU for custom colors or finishes.
• Lead times: standard fabric ships in 2-3 weeks. Specialty (waterproof, antimicrobial) can stretch to 6 weeks.

A lesson learned the hard way: in 2020, I tried a new vendor for antimicrobial fabric — quoted $3.50/yard cheaper. They couldn't provide proper documentation for the antimicrobial treatment. My compliance team rejected the order. I ate $2,800 out of the department budget. Now I verify testing certifications before any order, regardless of the brand.

4. What about Raymond Waites sheets? Are those still available?

This comes up a lot — 'raymond waites sheets' — and there's confusion. Raymond Waites is a designer name, not a Raymond fabric line. Their bed linens were popular in the 2000s, but availability is spotty today. Some vintage or liquidations stock may exist, but don't count on it as a B2B source.

If you're looking for bedding fabric from Raymond actual, they do percale, sateen, and linen blends — but their strength is in upholstery and performance, not bed sheets per se. I'd check their bedding division directly for current offerings.

This was true 10 years ago when Raymond Waites was in full production. Today, the market has shifted toward direct-to-consumer bedding brands, and Raymond's focus has moved to technical fabrics.

5. Kylie Minogue bedding — is that a thing?

Yes, actually — Kylie Minogue has a bedding line (primarily in the UK and Australia), but it's not directly related to Raymond. The connection? Both operate in the 'lifestyle bedding' space, but Raymond doesn't manufacture for Kylie Minogue's line as far as my sourcing tells me. If you're looking for that specific brand, check their retail partners directly.

Not ideal, but workable: if you need similar aesthetics — sateen finishes, high thread counts, neutral palettes — Raymond's bedding fabrics can match, just under their own branding or white-label.

6. What's the deal with Livaeco viscose vs. cotton?

More buyers are asking about Livaeco viscose — it's a branded viscose fiber from Lenzing, marketed as sustainable (certified compostable, from sustainably managed forests). Raymond offers Livaeco viscose blends.

Livaeco vs. cotton:

• Livaeco is softer and drapes better than cotton, similar to modal but more eco-cred.
• It's less durable than cotton in high-wear applications. I wouldn't use Livaeco for contract upholstery — it's better for apparel or light residential.
• Cost: roughly 10-20% more than standard viscose, comparable to premium cotton.

The surprise wasn't the price difference — it was how much better Livaeco felt in hand compared to standard viscose. But for B2B, durability matters. I still kick myself for specifying Livaeco for a hotel's dining chairs in 2023 — looked great, but started pilling within 6 months. Cotton would have held up better.

7. How do I handle the CSUEB Canvas login situation for ordering?

This one's a curveball — 'csueb canvas login' is likely someone looking for California State University East Bay's Canvas portal, not a fabric question. But it highlights a real point: Raymond's B2B ordering isn't always intuitive.

If you're a business buyer, Raymond's ordering platform varies by region and division. For upholstery fabrics, they use a distributor network. For bedding and apparel, they may have direct accounts. My tip: call their B2B sales team first — don't try to navigate the website alone. Ask for a dedicated account manager. That's worth more than any 'login' portal.

One of my biggest regrets: not reaching out sooner. I spent 3 hours on their website trying to figure out minimums — a 5-minute call would have saved me. Goodwill with your account manager matters more than any self-service tool.