Vivacious Velvet

Vivacious Velvet

            Velvet is a woven fabric that has often been associated with wealth, nobility, and royalty. The reason for this common association is because the process of weaving velvet was quite complicated before the invention of mechanical looms. It can be made of both natural and synthetic materials, however, it was traditionally made from silk fibers. There are many types of velvet and even an imitation fabric called velveteen. Velvet is a lush fabric that has been used to create elegant designs for hundreds of years in the past, and will be used for many years to come.

            This lush fabric is made on a special loom using one set of filling threads and two sets of warp threads. Commonly, the warp threads are woven on two pieces of cloth. When the weaving process is complete, a blade slices the two pieces apart resulting with one piece of cloth with a pile. Since the pile is not one completely even length, it is sheared to assure that each fiber is the same length. After this process, the velvet is ready to be dyed. While still wet from the dying process, it can be brushed to create the look of traditional velvet, or twisted to create the crushed velvet look.

            The pile of traditional velvet runs one way due to the fact that it was brushed one certain way upon production. This characteristic is unique to velvet and is desired by consumers. It takes the dyeing process well, and when silk velvet is dyed it is dazzling and glossy.  Velvet is easily damaged by folding and ordinary washing procedures. Although some types of velvet can be washed, it is important that most types of velvet be only dry-cleaned or lightly steamed.  Velvet is often used as grand drapery fabric because it drapes becomingly.

            It has been said that the production of velvet has been dated back as far as 2,000 BC in Egypt where pieces of the fabric have been unearthed. Velvet weaving was established in the Middle East, where Turkish weaves were rumored to be the best at this tedious and time-consuming trade. By the middle ages, velvet became very popular and was used for upholstered furniture, elegant draperies, and lavish clothing for those who could afford it. At this time, velvet was only seen on the wealthiest of people because it was still being woven by hand. When the Industrial Revolution came about, new machines and technology offered ease of the mass production of velvet and it became much more affordable.

            Oftentimes, velvet is confused with velveteen and some knit fabrics with pile that resemble it. True velvet is woven. When using velvet in any context, it is important to pay close attention to the direction in which the pile runs. If two pieces of velvet are to be sewed together, it is possible that without great care, the pile can run in opposite directions. In some cases, if the pile on the velvet has been folded or slightly damaged, steaming the fabric may take out some of the warps.

            In conclusion, velvet is a vivacious fabric with a history that is as rich and colorful as the fabric itself. In modern society, people have the privilege to have velvet readily available to them at a reasonable price for the quality of the fabric. Velvet has a striking and lustrous texture that many people love. It has been around for such a long time because of its beauty and will continue to be used for hundreds of years to come.

           

Sources

Innovate Us (2006). What is Velvet Fabric?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.innovateus.net/innopedia/what-velvet. [Last Accessed 12 September 12].

Kimberly Back (2011). Who Invented Velvet?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2397665. [Last Accessed 10 September 12].

NY Fashion Center (e.g. 2011). Velvet Fabric Information. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nyfashioncenterfabrics.com/velvet-fabric-info.html. [Last Accessed 10 September 12].

Peggy Joyce Gaddis (2009). Velvet Fabric - An Elegant Member of the Pile Family of Fabric. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.the-sewing-partner.com/velvet-fabric.html. [Last Accessed 11 September 12].

Wikipedia (2012). Velvet. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet. [Last Accessed 10 September 12].