VELVET FABRIC INFORMATION

VELVET FABRIC INFORMATION

For a long period of history, velvet was a
possession of the rich and royal; a sumptuous,
luxurious fabric that was draped across walls and
adorned noble frocks. From Kashmir in the
Middle-Ages to Belgium and Italy during the
Renaissance, the art of velvet weaving has
produced a singularly recognizable material,
immediately conferring a sensation of nobility.
Velvet is commonly made from silk and cotton,
and more recently has been fashioned from
polyester as well. The material is extremely plush
and soft, and is most popular in deep, rich colors.
Velvet production results in piles on the face of
the fabric, which can be dealt with in various
manners to create different looks. The pile can be
cut into shapes, creating cut velvet patterns that
are popular with drapery and cushion covers, or it
can be twisted while wet to form crushed velvet,
which is popular in home furnishings as well as
garments. The pile can also be directionally
compressed, even in multiple directions on the
same piece of cloth, to create interesting looks
depending in the point of view.
Velvet is a particularly tricky material to maintain,
as prolonged compression or folding can
permanently affect the pile. Creases can be
removed through the use of a velvet board or a
steamer, and most velvet pieces are
recommended to be dry cleaned, although some
crushed velvet garments are machine washable.