Velvet is a very soft woven fabric. The term “velvety feel” does come from the tactile quality of Velvet itself, this is down to the unique way Velvet is produced by weaving two layers simultaneously and then cut apart to create this luscious fabric with short pile fibres that give the fabric texture and depth.
Types of velvet
Cotton velvets:
Weaving Cotton fibres makes Cotton Velvet, which creates a shallow depth compared to some of the more luxurious Velvets. This would mean the fabric is more likely to be used as upholstery fabric due to the shorter piles giving a flatter finish and this would mean you wouldn’t get the movement on some other Velvets compared to Cotton Velvet.
Silk velvets: Silk velvets are the most luxurious and expensive of Velvets produced due to the soft fibres used creates a high-end look. Royals used this many years ago as it was very expensive to produce. Pure Silk Velvet is the most expensive to this day so the usual Silk Velvet on the market is a mix of Rayon and Silk.
Synthetic velvets:
Many different synthetic fibres can create different Synthetic Velvets such as Polyester, Nylon, Viscose, Acetate and new combinations of Velvet that combine natural yarns with Synthetic yarns which creates a different aesthetic.
Synthetic velvets are very popular and cheaper then other velvets on the market and you can get a variety of velvets to suit your needs and aesthetics.
Polyester velvet is very durable and overall a protective velvet, it can be used on products or in areas where there will be a lot of usage and you need the material to give you that strength and durability to last, therefore Polyester Velvet would be the best type to use within that area. Polyester velvet is usually coated to protect the fabric from creasing and deteriorating making this an ideal fabric for upholstery and soft furnishing in high traffic areas.
Wash instructions/Maintenance
Velvets can take a lot of time to maintain during cleaning processes however most Synthetic polyesters can be machine washed however this depends on the content of Synthetic fibres and natural fibres.
Natural Velvets such as Silk, Cotton, Linen and Mohair should be dry-cleaned as the drying processes used to dry clean fabrics helps restore the fabric back to its original condition prior to being wet. Natural yarns that have been woven in to Velvet can shrink if not dry cleaned this is due to the hot water used in a washing machine or by hand. Therefore the best way to clean Velvet is by steam or dry cleaning this would also mean not using an iron to iron out any creases in velvet as this would flatten the piles and ruin the overall look of the Velvet.
Uses/Applications
There are many uses for velvet from winter clothing to upholstery and soft furnishings. The desired look for each product would depend on the type of Velvet you should use.
Curtains:
Using Polyester Velvet would be ideal as the Polyester will create a durable fabric for constant use and the weight of the fabric will give the curtains a luxury look especially in winter when you need a heavy fabric to block some of the cold out, this would also be great if you want to block out the light as Velvet has great opacity.
Soft furnishings:
Polyester velvet or a Cotton blend of Velvet will create this durable fabric for cushions or decorative features for your interiors like throws or a table runner. However using Silk Velvet will give a royal finish with a glossy sheen to the fabric.
Apparel:
Velvet is a very popular fabric during Autumn/Winter due to the warmth and weight of the fabric. Velvet is a great fabric to choose for a winter evening dress as silk velvet or any velvet that has been treated to bring out sheen has a very elegant look.
Upholstery:
Cotton or Polyester velvet will be the best velvet to use due to the durability aspect also cotton velvet has a shorter pile and is quite flat and it isn’t as glossy as some of the other Velvet.
