Velvet fabrics come in a wide range of styles and colors, and you may find a wide variety at local clothing outlets and major department stores. Many people don’t realize what textiles are silk velvet.
Many velvet fabrics are produced from different base fabrics like cotton and polyester. Silk velvet, however, is velvet fabric with silk as its base.
Luxurious fabrics like silk velvet are always pricy, and even the cheapest ones are usually more expensive than synthetic analogs. Still, the fabric is a great choice for many designer brands.
What is Silk Velvet Fabric?
Soft and luxurious, silk velvet is used for various home furnishings, including carpets, rugs, cushions, and drapes. It’s also used to create knits, garments, and accessories like shoes and purses.
The only difference between silk velvet and regular velvet is that the latter is a source of other fabrics like cotton velvet.
Silk velvet’s rise to prominence can be attributed to the fact that it is a high-end, long-lasting, and cozy fabric. It’s a fashionable option for any space thanks to its wide range of deep color options. The fabric is also popular among homeowners because of its durability and luxury.
As a decorative fabric, silk velvet is quite pricey compared to alternatives. Compared to the price of regular velvet, the price is likewise significantly higher, probably because of the pricy nature of its base fabric, silk.
However, some clothing manufacturers substitute silk for other materials with similar features, like rayon or viscose, to reduce the price of velvet. Sometimes, you end up with a fabric that looks like its silk variant and can stand in for it since it is flowy, silky, and reflective.
Still, it’s an excellent option for anyone trying to furnish their house and lifestyle with high-end materials without breaking the budget.
Many fashion designers have relied on silk velvet for their collections. From high street to haute couture, they also make stunning celebrity dresses and formal clothing.
Silk velvet is still a high-end fabric. And though it is an expensive fabric, it has become more accessible and economical, allowing it to be used in casual and everyday clothing.
How Is Silk Velvet Fabric Produced?
One of the most well-known velvet materials, silk is crafted by extracting the cocoons of silkworms and weaving the resulting threads into yarn.
Regular velvet can be made from various materials, but the manufacturing method remains the same regardless of the starting fabric. Velvet made from silk threads is called “silk velvet.”
Velvet is woven on a special loom that spins two threads at once to create a layered fabric. The layers of fabric are then cut off and rolled up separately.
The silk is woven in two layers. And the layers are stacked on each other and linked by a third warp thread.
Once the fibers have been oriented in the proper direction, they protrude vertically from the cloth to produce the pile and give it that signature velvety feel. In other words, the silk threads are woven into the fabric to make a rich fabric with a short pile.
The pile is then tied onto the warp and weft backing and trimmed to create this vertical pile.
Silk velvet is now commonly made from a synthetic fiber blend that includes polyester and polyamide. An extremely fine and thick polyester yarn is tightly wound around a polyamide yarn to create a core-fill yarn, which is then used in the production of the material.
Origins Of Silk Velvet Fabric
The first silk velvet was produced in East Asia in the 14th century and has been utilized in the fashion industry ever since.
Velvet was a prominent fabric in the Middle East before it became fashionable in Europe during the Renaissance. For example, velvet appears to have been a popular choice among the nobility of numerous ancient civilizations whose territories occupied what is now modern-day Iraq and Iran.
In the early 1900s, velvet production began in Belgium.
As velvet materials crafted from silk and synthetic fabrics decreased in price, they became increasingly fashionable in the middle of the twentieth century and have become popular since then. Silk velvet varieties and synthetic velvet materials are just two of the many sorts of velvet made available now.
Different Types of Silk Velvet Fabric
It’s no secret that silk velvet is one of the most sought-after fabrics. Silk velvet comes in many different varieties, each with its own characteristics and uses.
Let’s examine the many varieties of luxurious silk velvet available.
- French silk velvet fabric
French silk velvet is likely the most costly among the several kinds of silk velvet. It is a thicker version of velvet that’s softer and smoother than regular silk velvet.
The fabric is also more appropriate for dressy occasions because of the heavier, coarser cloth from which it’s often crafted.
- Embroidered Silk velvet fabric
This type of silk velvet has been “embroidered” and is created using a unique process that raises tiny designs or motifs on the fabric. This form of silk velvet is given a more classic appearance and feel. You’ll typically see this fabric in the apparel used by different religious leaders in their ceremonies.
- Fade-resistant Silk velvet fabric
By looking at the name, you can know what it is used for. This type of silk velvet has a polyurethane coating, making it resistant to fading. This treatment prevents the velvet from losing its vibrant colors and keeps it looking new for longer.
- Ombre Silk Velvet Fabric
Typically, a velvet foundation fabric is dyed in multiple colors to create ombre velvet. Commonly, it’s put to use in upholstery.
- Pure silk velvet fabric
Pure silk velvet is created from yarn spun from silk fibers as a spinning thread to create a grey fabric, with some of the silk threads in the yarn heaped into velvet for aesthetic effect.
It does not experience the inverse fleece or lint phenomena since it bundles a few of the silk fibers on the thread directly to the velvet to produce velvet.
- Printed silk velvet fabric
Velvet fabric with printed graphics or designs is created by starting with a piece of plain velvet fabric.
What’s The Cost of Purchasing Silk Velvet Fabric Per Yard
Many factors, such as the base fabric costs, the size of the final result, the chemicals employed in production, the price of the machinery utilized, etc., have a role in determining the ultimate price during manufacturing.
Products made from silk would often have higher average prices due to the high cost and limited material supply. On average, you’ll spend more than $30 a yard on silk velvet without counting the cost of the purest varieties.
You can purchase other silk velvet fabric types, like stretch silk velvet and printed silk velvet fabric, for prices ranging from $10 to $15 and $17 per yard, respectively.
How Silk Velvet Fabric Is Used
Just like other types of fabrics, silk velvet can be used to produce items other than clothing. Some of the fabric’s uses include;
- Curtains and draperies
There are several good reasons why people choose to decorate their homes with silk velvet curtains, which are exquisite, fashionable, and durable. Silk velvet drapes well and blocks undesired light very effectively due to its weight.
Draperies and blinds, together with window treatments, are among the window coverings that benefit from their use. They also require little effort on your part to keep tidy.
- Clothing
The luxurious feel of silk velvet makes it an excellent material for clothes. It is suitable for various garments, including blouses, skirts, pantsuits, formal dresses, evening gowns, and bridal gowns. Furthermore, rompers, shorts, and swimwear can benefit from its incorporation.
Silk velvet, with its luxurious softness and subtle glitter, is typically reserved for women’s apparel.
- Home Furnishings and Upholstery
Silk velvet can be used to upholster furniture, including couches, chairs, and beds.
Accent chairs, sofas, ottomans, and tables also can benefit from being upholstered in luxurious silk velvet.
Some Tips for Caring for Silk Velvet Fabric
If you want your silk velvet to look as good as new for as long as possible, you’ll need to treat it with the tender loving care it deserves.
- Use cold water and the gentle cycle as much as possible. Using cold water won’t cause as much wear and tear on the fabric as hot water. Hot water, however, can set the color. After washing, you can give the fabric a good rinsing in cold water.
- Although silk velvet is recommended to be washed by hand, You may also wash it in a washing machine without damaging the fabric. Turn the item inside out and store it in a mesh laundry bag for protection.
- You should dry velvet clothing as quickly as possible by flatting them out. Leaving them moist and crinkly can ruin the velvet fabric. You can press the fabric lightly with a dry towel to remove excess water and help set the wrinkles. The fabric is fragile and should never be scrunched or wrung out when wet.
- You should check the velvet’s care instructions if you’re attempting to color your silk velvet fabric. Depending on the type of silk velvet, you may or may not be able to add color to it.
- Garments made from silk velvet should be kept in a protective mesh bag somewhere dark and out of direct sunlight. You can also place tight-fitting silk velvet garments in a protective bag to prevent wear and tear from other clothing or things rubbing against them.