Furnishing Fabric Fashion January/February 2019

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Furnishing Fabric Fashion
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From cushions to wallpapers, velvet has dimpled its way into our homes as one
of the best furnishing fabrics and interior decoration items.
Velvet, in textiles, fabric having a short, dense pile, used in clothing and upholstery.
The term derives from the Middle French velu, “shaggy.” The earliest form
of velvet, woven from silk and linen, is thought to have originated in Egypt in
2000BCE. Velvet weaving then developed in China, between 400 BCE and 23
CE, and later in the Middle East and eastern Europe. But it wasn’t until the late
medieval and Renaissance period that velvet design and innovation really took
off in Italy and Spain.
Velvet’s still on trend in 2020 and never more so than in the home, with sales of
velvet furniture and home accessories showing a notable increase, according to
some of the big high street retailers.
Velvet is made in the pile weave, of silk, cotton, or synthetic fibers, 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. The term “velvety” means
soft, and it takes its meaning from its namesake fabric: velvet. The soft, smooth
fabric epitomizes luxury, with its smooth nap and shiny appearance. Velvet has
been a fixture of fashion design and home decor for years, and its high-end feel
and appearance make it an ideal textile for elevated design.