Why is the 1993 separation of Czechoslovakia called the Velvet Divorce?

The 1993 separation of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia is known as the Velvet Divorce because the partition was achieved entirely without bloodshed.12

The term draws a parallel to the Velvet Revolution of 1989, which was similarly described as a "soft" revolt that ended communist rule in the country peacefully. Following the 1992 elections, political leaders Václav Klaus and Vladimir Mečiar found it impossible to form a functional federal government due to differing visions for the state's future, including economic policy and the degree of sovereignty for Slovakia.12

Rather than resorting to conflict, the two republics negotiated the dissolution of the federation in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation, leading to the formal creation of two independent nations on January 1, 1993.12