Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
velvet
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
velvet
Quick Facts
Related Topics:
cut pile
See all related content
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
velvet
velvet Swatch of black cotton velvet.

velvet

fabric
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

velvet, in textiles, fabric having a short, dense pile, used in clothing and upholstery. The term derives from the Middle French velu, “shaggy.” Velvet is made in the pile weave, of silk, cotton, or synthetic fibres, and is characterized by a soft, downy surface formed by clipped yarns. The wrong side of the fabric is smooth and shows the weave employed.

Velvets can be made water-repellent and crush-resistant. They are also occasionally patterned or embossed.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.