The fabric reminds me of an oversized corduroy, and I was pleasantly surprised by how soft it was, like a faux fur. I also love the swivel feature. In about two months of use, I haven't had any issues with the swivel functionality. They work well on the hardwood and equally well when placed on the carpet. I recently had a Twilight movie marathon, and the swivel functionality made it super easy to switch between facing the TV.