thumb|Ottoman velvet cushion cover, 17th century. Floral motifs were common in Ottoman art, as seen in the rich, stylized patterns here. Silk, cotton, metallic-wrapped thread, velvet, satin weave (warp direction horizontal). Textile Museum collections.

Velvet is a type of tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinct feel.

Composition

Velvet can be made from many different kinds of fibers. It is woven on a special loom that weaves two pieces of velvet at the same time. The two pieces are then cut apart and the two lengths of fabric are wound on separate take-up rolls. Velvet was very expensive and was among the luxury goods. Velvet is difficult to clean, but in modern times, dry cleaning is used.

Velvet is made, ideally, from silk. Cotton can also be used, though this often results in a slightly less luxurious fabric. More recently, synthetic velvets have been developed, mostly polyester, nylon, viscose, acetate and mixtures of different synthetics, or synthetics and natural fibers (eg. viscose and silk). 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 raffia is often referred to as "Kuba velvet".

A small percentage of lycra is used sometimes to give stretch.

History

thumb|400px|Velvet with Medici Arms, Florence or Venice, 1440–1500 The art of velvet-weaving probably originated in ancient Kashmir around the beginning of the fourteenth century.

King Richard II of England directed in his will that his body should be clothed in velveto in 1399.

The earliest sources of European artistic velvets were Lucca, Genoa, Florence and Venice, and Genoa continues to send out rich velvet textures. Somewhat later the art was taken up by Flemish weavers, and in the 16th century Bruges attained a reputation for velvets which was not inferior to that of the great Italian cities.

See also

Velvet painting