Velvet is a type of
woven fabric with a dense, even
pile[1] that gives it a distinctive soft feel. By extension, the word velvety means "smooth like velvet". Historically, velvet was typically made from
silk. Today, velvet can be made from
silk,
linen,
cotton,
wool,
synthetic fibers, silk-cotton blends, or synthetic-natural fiber blends.[2]
Construction and composition
Velvet is woven on a special
loom that weaves two thicknesses of the material at the same time; the two layers are connected with an extra warp yarn that is woven over rods or wires.[3] The two pieces are then cut apart to create the fabric's pile, and the two lengths of fabric are wound on separate take-up rolls. This complicated process meant that velvet was expensive to make before industrial power looms became available, and well-made velvet remains a fairly costly fabric. Velvet is difficult to clean because of its pile, but modern
dry cleaning methods make cleaning more feasible. Velvet pile is created by cutting the
warp yarns, while
velveteen pile is created by cutting the
weft yarns.
Velvet can be made from several different kinds of fibers, the most expensive of which is
silk. Much of the velvet sold today as "silk velvet" is a blend of silk and another fiber, often
rayon or
cotton.[4] Velvet made entirely from silk is rare and usually has market prices of several hundred US dollars per yard.
Cotton is also used to make velvet, though this often results in a less luxurious fabric. Velvet can also be made from fibers such as
linen,
mohair, and
wool. A cloth made by the
Kuba people of the
Democratic Republic of Congo from the
raffia palm is often referred to as
"Kuba velvet". Modern velvet can be
polyester,
nylon,
viscose,
acetate, or blends of synthetics and natural fibers (for example, viscose mixed with silk produces a very soft, reflective fabric). A small percentage of
spandex is sometimes added to give the final material a certain amount of stretch (hence "stretch velvet").[5]
Velvet has a thick pile and can be cut 'pile up' or 'pile down' for more shine or more saturated color.[6]
History
Because of its unusual softness and appearance as well as its high cost of production, velvet has often been associated with nobility. Velvet was introduced to
Baghdad during the rule of
Harun al-Rashid (786–809) by
Kashmiri merchants and to
Al-Andalus by
Ziryab. In the
Mamluk era,
Cairo was the world's largest producer of velvet. Much of it was exported to
Venice (whence it spread to most of Europe), Iberia and the
Mali Empire.
Mansa Musa, the ruler of the Mali Empire, visited Cairo on his
pilgrimage to Mecca. Many Arab velvet makers accompanied him back to
Timbuktu. Later
Ibn Battuta mentions how
Suleyman, the ruler of Mali, wore a locally produced complete crimson velvet
kaftan on
Eid. During the reign of
Mehmed II, assistant cooks wore blue dresses (câme-i kebûd), conical hats (کلاه, külâh) and baggy trousers (چاقشیر, çakşır) made from
Bursa velvet.[citation needed]
King
Richard II of England directed in his will that his body should be clothed in velveto in 1399.[7]
VELVET, a silken textile fabric having a short dense piled surface. In all probability the art of velvet-weaving originated in the Far East; and it is not till about the beginning of the 14th century that we find any mention of the textile. The peculiar properties of velvet, the splendid yet softened depth of dye-colour it exhibited, at once marked it out as a fit material for ecclesiastical
vestments, royal and state robes, and sumptuous hangings; and the most magnificent textures of medieval times were Italian velvets. These were in many ways most effectively treated for ornamentation, such as by varying the colour of the pile, by producing pile of different lengths (pile upon pile, or double pile), and by brocading with plain silk, with uncut pile or with a ground of gold tissue, &c. The earliest sources of European artistic velvets were
Catanzaro,[8][9]Lucca,
Genoa,
Florence, and Venice, which continued to send out rich velvet textures. Somewhat later the art was taken up by
Flemish weavers, and in the sixteenth century,
Bruges attained a reputation for velvets that were not inferior to those of the great Italian cities.[10]
very lightweight velvet on a sheer
silk or
rayon chiffon base.[11]
Ciselé
velvet where the pile uses cut and uncut loops to create a pattern.[11]
Crushed
lustrous velvet with patterned appearance that is produced by either pressing the fabric down in different directions, or alternatively by mechanically twisting the fabric while wet.[12]
a velvet treated with a caustic solution to dissolve areas of the pile, creating a velvet pattern upon a sheer or lightweight base fabric.[12]
Embossed
velvet on which a metal roller has been used to heat-stamp the fabric, producing a pattern.[12]
Hammered
an extremely lustrous velvet with a crushed and dappled appearance.[12]
Lyons
a densely woven, stiff, heavier-weight pile velvet used for hats, coat collars and garments.[11][13]
Mirror
a type of exceptionally soft and light crushed velvet.[13]
Nacré
velvet with an effect similar to
shot silk where the pile is woven in one or more colours and the base fabric in another, creating a changeable, iridescent effect.[11][13]
Panne
a type of crushed velvet produced by forcing the pile in a single direction by applying heavy pressure.[14] Sometimes, less frequently, called paon velvet.[15] However, since the 1970s, "panne velvet" as used in ordinary fabric stores has referred to a pile knit, perhaps better called a velour, with a short pile that falls in many directions; usually of polyester.
Pile-on-pile, also called double velvet
a particularly luxurious type of velvet woven with piles of differing heights to create a pattern. It is one of the oldest known velvet weaving techniques.[16][17][18]
Plain
velvet commonly made of cotton with a firm hand.[12]
Ponson
A very heavy and quite expensive velvet made either entirely with silk or having a pile exclusively of silk, used at one point for women's dresses and cloaks
Utrecht
a pressed and crimped velvet associated with
Utrecht, the Netherlands.[11]
Voided
velvet deliberately woven with areas of pile-free ground (usuallysatin) forming a pattern.[19]
Wedding ring or ring velvet
another term for devoré and/or chiffon velvets which are allegedly fine enough to be drawn through a wedding ring.[20]
Microfiber velvet is a synthetic
polyester variety of the fabric that resists stains easily and is lightweight
Nylon/rayon blend
Nylon/rayon blend velvet has much of the feel and drape of silk-based velvet, but is usually much less expensive; also, it is easier to care for than silk velvet
Polyester/spandex velvet (often called "stretch velvet") can be made of polyester with a small percentage of spandex to allow it to stretch in one or two directions
^Denny, Grace Goldena (1947). Fabrics. J. B. Lippincott Company. p. 77. Panne or paon velvet. Finish on lightweight velvet. Pile laid flat in one direction.
^Crowfoot, Elisabeth; Pritchard, Frances; Unwin, Kay Staniland; photography by Edwin Baker; illustrations by Christina (2006).
Textiles and clothing, c.1150-c.1450 (New ed.). Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Boydell. p. 127.
ISBN9781843832393.
^Strong Hillhouse, Marian (1963). Dress selection and design. Macmillan. p.
156. Chiffon velvet is also called "wedding ring velvet," because it is supposedly so light _and soft it can be pulled through a wedding ring.