Black Background Advice

I've been using multi-coloured Lastolite backgrounds for Studio work. I need to do some portrait work for a client that wants models with a pure black background. My first thought was to use black velvet for the backdrop, but am open to reasons why or why not to go this route.

Black backdrop, any cloth without any lustre (at certain angles even velvet has luster in the folds!)

Background separated by adequate distance from subject (e.g light-to-subject = 3', light-to-b/g = 11'

Black velvet; get the best you can afford; it really absorbs light. I just stuff mine in a bag, the creases very seldom show. I steam it if that becomes a problem.

Wouldn't it be better to use a heavy fabric that is relatively untextured as opposed to velvet which has depth and dimension? If you can't distance the subject from the background will the velvet work when you want a complete loss of detail in the background?