Velour fabric stands out for its rich texture and soft feel, making it both regal and versatile. It exudes elegance and comfort, which has made it popular in fashion, upholstery, and performance arts. This article explores its qualities, uses, and production process to give you a clear understanding of this unique fabric.
What is Velour Fabric?
Properties of Velour Fabric
Softness and Comfort
Velour stands out for its softness, making it a popular choice for clothing like tracksuits, loungewear, and upholstery. Its smooth texture feels gentle and comforting against the skin, offering both luxury and coziness.
Stretchability
Thankes to its knitted construction, velour possesses a stretch capability, which is not the case with woven velvet. This stretch makes it perfect for such application that needs stretchable material like tailored clothes or furniture coverings..
Durability
Velour is known for its durability, especially when made from synthetic polyester fibers. It resists wear and tear, bouncing back easily and maintaining its look even with regular use.
Luxurious Appearance
Velour has a luxurious appearance due to its soft, lustrous pile. Its velvety shine enhances its aesthetic appeal, giving it a sophisticated look. This makes it a popular choice for high-end items, adding elegance and value to anything made from it.
Breathability
Velour made from natural fibers like cotton absorbs moisture well and allows better airflow. This makes it a great choice for clothing in warm weather, keeping you comfortable and cool.
How is Velour Fabric Made?
The manufacturing of velour involves several steps, which depend on the type of fiber used, such as cotton or polyester. Whether natural or synthetic, the production process typically includes the following steps.
1. Fiber Selection
Manufacturers can make velour from 100% natural fibers like cotton or synthetic materials like polyester. Sometimes, they combine fibers to create a fabric that offers softness, stretch, and strength for added convenience.
2. Knitting Process
Unlike velvet, which has a woven construction, velour is made with a knitted construction. This gives the fabric its stretch. After knitting, certain loops in the yarn are cut to create its unique texture.
3. Pile Formation
After knitting, the raised loops on the fabric’s surface are cut to create velour’s thick, soft pile. This shearing process also adds extra texture and shine, enhancing the fabric’s unique look and feel.
4. Dyeing
Colors can be vibrant, or deep and rich, and this can be achieved by dyeing the fabric. Typical synthetic velour has excellent dye-ability and retains color quite permanently throughout its life.
5. Finishing
Finishing the textile involves treating the fabric with certain finishes which may include anti-pilling, water repellents, and flame retardants among others.
Uses of Velour Fabric
Velour material is renowned for its versatility, as well as luxury, comfort, and usefulness. Its softness, elasticity, and delicate shine makes it widely used across industries. Here’s a deep dive into the endless uses of velour fabric:
1. Fashion and Apparel
Velour is a favorite for fashion designers creating stylish and comfy clothes. Its soft feel and stretch make it perfect for many items:
- Tracksuits and Loungewear: Velour tracksuits stand out for their luxurious feel and softness, perfect for casual or athleisure wear.
- Dresses and Tops: The fabric drapes beautifully and shines, enhancing both formal and casual outfits.
- Jackets and Coats: Lightweight velour jackets and coats add elegance and warmth.
- Accessories: Scarves, gloves, and winter wear gain a soft, luxurious touch with velour.
2. Home Decor and Upholstery
Velour’s soft feel and durability make it a top choice for home décor, both stylish and cozy:
- Furniture: Velour-covered sofas, chairs, and ottomans add elegance and comfort.
- Curtains and Drapes: Its weight and smooth texture make it ideal for beautiful, light-blocking curtains.
- Cushions and Throws: Velour is often used for decorative cushions and throws, adding warmth and style to any room.
3. Performance and Costumes
Theater, dance, and performance industries use velour for its style and function:
- Stage Curtains: Velour absorbs light and adds durability, making it perfect for setting the mood on stage.
- Costumes: Its stretch and smooth finish make velour ideal for dance, stage, and cosplay outfits.
- Backgrounds and Props: Velour’s soft texture adds depth and richness to stage backdrops and props.
4. Automotive Interiors
Velour is one of the most used materials in automobiles due to its durability and comfort.Car Seat Cover: Its soft touch enhances the comfort of the car interiors.
Headliners and Door Panels: Velour is commonly applied in linings and door panels to impart an elegant interior feel.
5. Crafts and Decorative Items
Velour’s deep color and smooth feel make it ideal for making crafts and decoration.Soft Toys: Velour’s softness makes it a perfect material for soft toys and dolls.
Christmas Decorations: From stockings to Christmas ornaments, velour provides festive and elegant appeal.
Types of Velour Fabric:
Velour fabrics are available in a number of varieties, each depending on its fiber type, texture, and usage. All these variations allow velour to fulfil a wide range of demands, from clothes to upholstery. The main varieties of velour fabric are listed below:
1. Cotton Velour
Cotton velour combines mostly natural cotton fibers with some synthetic fibers to improve its strength and stretch. It feels soft like fleece, allows air to pass through easily, and is slightly thicker than synthetic velvet. People use it for making swimwear, baby clothes, towels, and even casual upholstery.
2. Polyester Velour
Polyester velour is made with polypropylene fibers, making it strong and wrinkle-resistant.
– **Qualities:** Feels light, stays lightweight, and keeps shape.
– **Applications:** The versatility and low price point makes it ideal for activewear, costumes, and upholstery.
3. Spandex or Lycra Velour
This fabric blends velour with spandex (Lycra) for stretch and elasticity.
Description: Super stretchy, slim and silky.
Applications: Perfect for dance clothes, gymnastics leotards, and fitted clothes with stretch
4. Crushed Velour
Crushed velour — A textured or crushed look that is mechanically or chemically applied to the fabric.
Characteristics: Shiny, textured, and luxurious.
Usage: Typically used for party dresses, costumes, and decor items.
5. Stretch Velour
Stretch velour contains a greater amount of elastane or fibers to give it great flexibility.Description: Rather a stretchy, shape-enhancing, soft fabric.
Usage: Typically used for dress, sportswear, and stage sets
6. Microfiber Velour
This modern version of velour is made from very fine synthetic fibers, usually polyester or a mix of fibers.
Description: It is thin, silky, and lightweight.
Applications: It is ideal for car interiors, plush toys, and luxurious sheets.
7. Printed Velour
Printed velour involves distinctive designs or prints printed on the surface of the fabric.
Quality: A blend of velour warmth and elegant designs.
Applications: Used for decorating the home, clothing, and costumes.
8. Upholstery Velour
This kind is designed to be durable and wear-resistant for furniture use.
Properties: Shallower, thicker, and sometimes stained or flame resistant.
Uses: Used on couches, chairs, and decorative cushions.
9. Wool Velour
Wool velour uses natural wool fibers for warmth and softness.
Characteristics: Warm, insulating, and luxurious.
Applications: Used mainly in luxury coats, jackets, and winter gear
10. Velour Terry
The texture is a mix of velour and terry cloth, loops on one side and a velvety texture on the other.
Characteristics: Soft, absorbent, and versatile.
Applications: Good for bathrobes, towels, and casual furniture.
Why Choose Velour Over Velvet?
Velour and velvet look similar but differ in major ways. Velour is cheaper and can stretch easily which makes it suitable for use throughout the day. Velvet feels stiffer and tends to be used for expensive items. If you want it to look nice and still work, velour is your best option.
FAQS
What makes velour fabric different from velvet?
VelourS is knit and elastic; velvetS is woven and heavy. Velour is cheaper and can be used for different applications.
What types of projects are best for velour?
Velour is perfect for furniture, furniture upholstery, costumes, and accessories. The versatility makes it useful for both work and design.
Does velour fade over time?
Velour is fairly stable in color and texture, when kept properly cared for. Keep away from long-term exposure to direct sunlight to avoid sunburn.
Conclusion
Velour is a versatile, elegant and functional fabric that is suitable for various purposes. From its luxurious, shiny look to its durability and stretch, velour provides you with unsurpassed comfort and style. Whether you want to make trendy clothing or spice up your interior design, velour is a fabric you should consider.
2 thoughts on “What is Velour Fabric? Properties, Uses, and Making Process”
Nice info.