Choosing an upholstery for a high-end office chair involves more than just color, the fabric's material, texture, and durability play a huge role. When customizing a chair from Herman Miller, two popular options are the Rhythm and Crepe fabrics. Rhythm is a high-performance synthetic weave engineered for extreme durability and stain resistance, making it ideal for high-traffic environments, while Crepe offers a softer, more textured, and matte finish focused on tactile comfort and a relaxed aesthetic.
Here’s everything you need to know to decide which fabric is the right fit for your Herman Miller chair and your lifestyle.
Herman Miller Rhythm Fabric
Rhythm is one of Herman Miller's most popular base fabric offerings, known for its practical blend of style and resilience. It's an engineered, high-performance textile made for the demands of the modern workplace or a busy home office. Its tightly woven appearance gives it a sleek, professional look that holds up exceptionally well to daily use.
- What it is: A high-performance, durable synthetic fabric designed for heavy daily use in both commercial and residential settings.
- Key features: Excellent stain resistance, high colorfastness to prevent fading, and a smooth yet textured multi-tone weave.
- Price: Included as a standard option on many chairs, making it a cost-effective choice without sacrificing quality.
- Style: Modern, clean, and professional. The subtle texture complements contemporary decor and is available in a wide range of neutral and bold colors.
- Materials/Construction: Tightly woven 100% polyester that often includes recycled content, reflecting Herman Miller's commitment to sustainability.
- Pros: Extremely durable and resistant to wear and tear. Easy to clean and maintain, making it ideal for high-traffic areas or homes with kids and pets. Modern aesthetic works with many designs. Holds its color and structure over many years.
- Cons: Lacks the soft, plush feel of natural or more textured fabrics. Can feel more utilitarian than luxurious. The tight weave is less breathable than more open weaves.
The Rhythm fabric is perfect for anyone who prioritizes longevity, low maintenance, and a clean professional look in demanding environments.
Shop this product: hermanmiller.com/products/seating/
Herman Miller Crepe Fabric
Herman Miller’s Crepe fabric stands out for its unique texture and inviting feel. It brings a softer, more residential touch to high-performance seating, with a distinctive pebbled surface and a matte finish that add visual depth. It's often chosen for its comfort and organic aesthetic over pure functional resilience.
- What it is: A woven fabric with a distinctive textured, matte surface known for its soft hand-feel and visual warmth.
- Key features: Soft and comfortable texture, good breathability, flexible and conforming, adept at hiding minor dust or lint.
- Price: Typically priced similarly to Rhythm, representing another excellent standard option for customization.
- Style: Warm, organic, and sophisticated. The textured, non-reflective surface is ideal for home offices and creative spaces, offered in a curated palette of muted and earthy tones.
- Materials/Construction: Woven from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester with a crepe texture that creates its signature surface.
- Pros: Very soft and comfortable for long sitting periods. The textured surface adds visual interest and a sophisticated look. Excellent breathability helps with temperature regulation. Its matte finish hides minor wear and doesn't show reflections.
- Cons: A more open weave can be susceptible to snags from sharp objects or pets. Less stain-resistant than Rhythm and may require more careful cleaning. The texture can catch dust more easily than smoother fabrics.
Crepe is the right choice for users who value tactile comfort and a cozy, sophisticated aesthetic for their personal workspace or home office.
Shop this product: hermanmiller.com/products/seating/
Rhythm vs. Crepe Fabric Comparison
Materials & Durability
The core difference lies here. Rhythm fabric is a workhorse - its tightly woven polyester is engineered specifically to resist abrasion, stains, and fading. It’s built to withstand the rigors of a commercial office, crowded co-working space, or a home with uncontrolled variables like pets and children. In durability tests designed to measure wear, Rhythm consistently performs at the top.
Crepe is also durable and designed to last for years, but its value is in its texture, not its invincibility. It is made from recycled polyester but features a looser, bumpier weave. This makes it more susceptible to snagging on sharp objects (like keys or a cat's claws) and less resistant to liquid spills compared to Rhythm’s almost non-porous surface. However, its textured pattern does an excellent job of hiding minor signs of daily wear.
Comfort & Feel
For sheer tactile comfort, Crepe is the clear winner for many. The fabric is noticeably softer to the touch, with a pliable, almost cushioned feel that's pleasant against the skin. Its construction makes it very breathable, which helps keep you comfortable and cool during long hours of sitting.
Rhythm is by no means uncomfortable, but it prioritizes function over feel. It's smoother than Crepe, but a bit stiffer and has a more classic "office chair" texture. It is still breathable, but the tighter weave provides less air circulation than the open structure of Crepe. Your preference will depend on whether you want a chair that feels soft and inviting or one that feels robust and professional.
Style & Aesthetic
Aesthetic is a primary consideration for many buyers. The Rhythm fabric has a clean, multi-tone weave that reads as a solid color from a distance. Its appearance is modern, understated, and professional, blending seamlessly into corporate environments or minimalist home offices. The color palette often includes a wider variety of both conservative neutrals and bright, bold accent colors.
Crepe offers a more organic and visually rich look. Its matte, pebbled texture diffuses light beautifully, giving it a depth that Rhythm lacks. This makes it feel warmer and more residential. The color options often lean towards a sophisticated, curated palette of earthy and muted tones that align with contemporary interior design trends.
Maintenance & Cleaning
This is where Rhythm pulls far ahead. It's engineered for easy care. Most stains and spills on Rhythm can be wiped away with mild soap and water without damaging the fabric. Its resilience to cleaning agents and its colorfastness mean you don't have to worry much about maintenance.
Crepe requires a gentler approach. While it is still cleanable, harsher chemicals or vigorous scrubbing could damage the textured weave. Its susceptibility to snagging also means you have to be more mindful. The texture can trap more dust, requiring more frequent vacuuming with a soft brush attachment. Essentially, Crepe is lower-maintenance for wear, but higher-maintenance for cleaning.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both fabrics are excellent choices from a leader in ergonomic design, but they are tailored for different users and environments.
Choose the Rhythm if:
- Durability and stain resistance are your absolute top priorities.
- The chair will be in a high-traffic area (like a corporate office or a family room).
- You have children or pets and need an easy-to-clean surface.
- You prefer a sleek, modern, and professional aesthetic for your workspace.
- You value a low-maintenance fabric that looks new for years with minimal effort.
Choose the Crepe if:
- Tactile comfort and a soft feel are more important than pure resilience.
- You want to add visual warmth and texture to your space.
- Your chair is for a personal home office or a setting with less foot traffic.
- You prefer an organic, matte aesthetic with a sophisticated, muted color palette.
- You don't anticipate frequent spills and are mindful of potential snags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between Herman Miller Rhythm and Crepe fabric?
The main difference is performance versus texture. Rhythm is a high-performance fabric engineered for superior durability and stain resistance with a smooth, modern weave. Crepe is a textured fabric known for its soft, comfortable feel and matte, organic appearance.
Which fabric is more durable?
The Rhythm fabric is technically more durable in terms of resisting stains, abrasion, and fading. Its tight synthetic weave is built for heavy use. While Crepe is also long lasting, its textured surface can be more prone to snagging.
Which fabric is softer?
Crepe fabric is significantly softer to the touch. Its unique weave creates a pliable, almost cushioned texture that many people find more comfortable for prolonged skin contact.
Is Herman Miller Rhythm fabric breathable?
Yes, Rhythm fabric is designed to be breathable enough for daily office use, allowing for reasonable air circulation. However, the warmer, more open weave of the Crepe fabric generally offers superior breathability.
How do you clean Crepe fabric?
For Crepe fabric, vacuuming regularly with a soft brush attachment is recommended. For spills, it’s best to blot immediately with a clean, dry cloth. For deeper cleaning, use a water-based cleaning agent or solvent designed for upholstery, but always test in an inconspicuous area first.
Is Crepe fabric a good choice for a home with pets?
It can be risky. Crepe's looser, textured weave makes it more susceptible to snagging from pet claws. If you have pets that like to climb on furniture, the highly durable and snag-resistant Rhythm fabric would be a safer choice.
Do Rhythm and Crepe fabrics cost the same?
Generally, yes. Both are often offered as standard, no-upcharge options on many Herman Miller chairs. Their pricing is very similar, so the decision should be based on lifestyle and preference, not budget.
Are both fabrics made from sustainable materials?
Yes, both fabrics reflect Herman Miller's focus on sustainability. The Crepe fabric is woven from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, and Rhythm fabrics often contain significant recycled content as well. Both are also certified for low VOC emissions.
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