What Makes Velour Fabric Different from Velvet?

Every day, across the globe, new advances are made in textile manufacturing. This includes the development of fabrics that are soft and comfortable to touch. One such fabric is velour. When it comes to today’s fashion trends, the word “velour” is always at the forefront. 

Velour is a fabric that’s quite soft and wrinkles easily. You might say it’s as soft as cashmere but Velor is a more mixed fabric. Unlike regular fabric, velour is more durable.

Velour is also perfect for various fabric choices, including dresses, jackets, shirts, and more. 

What Is Velour Fabric?

Velour Fabric

Velour is a fabric type produced using the pile knit method. The fabric is pretty soft and warm, and despite not being the most comfortable choice, it is among the most trustworthy due to its durability.

Velour has gained considerable popularity in other fields, like upholstery and the theater, where it is used much more frequently.

Because of its excellent durability, the fabric serves well and endures for a very long time. Velour frequently serves as a fire barrier between stages and crowds in theaters.

Stretchability makes this fabric ideal for casual wear and working exercise since it stretches readily and moves with the wearer.

The most typical material used to make velour is cotton, which offers the cloth a velvety texture, costs less and needs minimal maintenance. It might also be made from synthetic fibers like polyester and elastane, which would give it more stretch and flexibility, depending on the maker and the intended use.

The only distinction between velour and velvet is that the former is produced using a less labor-intensive method, which results in a cheaper retail price.

How Is Velour Fabric Made?

Velour is usually made from cotton but can also be made from synthetic materials such as polyester and is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery.

Velour fabric is made using a specific style of weaving in which looped threads are cut and made into a knit pile. Weaving-wise, it is relatively similar to other fabrics like velvet, but because velvet is made entirely of silk, it is far more luxurious and expensive.

The initial step in making velour is collecting the raw materials, which may be cotton or polyester. In contrast to polyester which is a synthetic fiber made from chemicals and petroleum, cotton is a natural fabric that must be cultivated, collected, and cleaned before it can be used.

The manufacturer first gathers the desired fabric, then spins it into yarn, and then weaves or knits it into large sheets.

This creates velour by knitting two different base materials onto the needles in an overlapping motion. The process, which can be lengthy, is also called “the pile knit method.” Because of this, velour’s signature rough surface is produced. 

Following the weaving process, velour may be dyed or treated with flame retardants or other post-production additions. The fabric can’t be used without doing any of these first.

Dyeing velour before weaving is quite okay and conceivable, but dyeing the material after weaving is much more easier. 

A Brief History Of Velour Fabric

Velour is derived from the French word “velvet.” According to some historical records, velour textiles have been used in clothing production since at least 206 BCE in China.

The fabric first moved to the Old World via the fabled Silk Road before making its way to the Middle East around the middle of the nineteenth century. 

Upholstery fabric production started in the 1840s, and the fabrication of textile bolts was the first step in the mass production of velour.

In the 1970s, the fabric became incredibly famous thanks largely to the fact that it was frequently seen on members of well-known rock bands.

In the late 2000s, Velour made its way onto the popular fashion scene, and since then, numerous distinctive tracksuits and other sportswear items have been made by different sportswear companies. 

Types Of Velour Fabric

Velour fabric is often mistaken with other fabric types which bear the same similarities, such as velvet. However, it comes in different forms, either passed through different production processes or blended with other fibers.

Some examples of velour fabric include;

  • Cotton velour

From its name, you can infer its source fabric is cotton. This type of velour was first manufactured in the middle of the 19th century and was marketed as an inexpensive alternative to the more expensive fabric; velvet.

It isn’t quite popular and has nearly the same influence as a stage curtain nowadays.

Today, a wide range of clothing, like hoodies, tracksuits, and gowns, are frequently made from cotton velour.

Additionally manufactured from velour fabric are blankets, cushions, and other home decor materials.

  • Velveteen

Velveteen lies in the middle of velvet and velour. Texturally, it is comparable to velvet but with a smaller pile. It is a cotton or cotton-and-silk combination of the velour variety used to replicate velvet but isn’t nearly as effective as velour.

The price difference would be apparent even if they were both created without synthetic fibers. Or the prices are presumably lower because of this.

  • Leather Velour

Leather velour, one of the many varieties of velour, is distinguished by a velvety surface and has a reputation for its fragility.

Leather velour is a type of cloth manufactured from animal skin, such as suede or chamois.

Additionally, the fabric is frequently used to create shoes, watch bands, and jacket linings is this velour fabric.

  • Synthetic Velour

In the upholstery and fashion industries, synthetic velour has entirely taken the place of cotton velour. 

The only difference between synthetic and cotton velour is that the former feel less soft.

Because of this, velour like this is usually only used for non-clothing purposes, including upholstery, bedding, and home decor.

Synthetic velour, made of polyester fibers, is significantly more affordable. Due to its fire resistance, it is frequently used as stage curtains.

What’s The Average Cost Of Velour Fabric?

There is a wide range in velour fabric costs due to the variety of fibers and other components used in its manufacture. Cotton velour, for instance, is typically much more expensive than synthetic velour, but organic cotton velour is slightly more expensive.

Polyester velour may cost around $20 per yard, while organic cotton velour costs averagely around $25 per yard. However, regular cotton velour costs around $9 to $15.

You should note that velour fabric prices may also be slightly impacted by the weight and width, although the fabric make is the primary determinant.

Velour Fabric Usage And Applications

Velour has a wide variety of uses, not just in the production of clothing materials. Some of its uses include;

  • Production of upholstery fabric

Sofas, car seats, and curtains are just some upholstery items that benefit from this fabric’s durability and versatility. It is often used because it is more durable than velvet and can withstand more wear and tear.

In addition, it requires only a little degree of upkeep. When it comes to upholstery, however, velour is more commonly used than fabric types like velvet.

  • Production of materials for theater

Velour is frequently utilized in the creation of stage curtains and theatrical drapes. Usually, velvet or other types of materials are used. But it is most preferred since velour is woven using the same method as velvet. 

Cotton and synthetic versions of velour are the types of velour fabric commonly used for this. 

  • Velour is used for cleaning

Cleaning with velour fabric is another great way to use the fabric.

The cleaning industry also uses velour, most notably as a component of vacuum cleaner attachments to help catch trash.

  • Production of clothing types

Velour is often used to produce a wide range of clothing styles, including dancewear, because of the flexibility it affords dancers. 

The fabric also makes warm, colorful, and casual garments.

  • Production of baby clothing and diapers

Although it does not absorb much, velour is incredibly fluffy and soft, making it ideal for your infant’s delicate skin.

Usually, a waterproof PUL fabric layer acts as the second layer in pocket diapers, with cotton velour serving as the inner layer.

Velour vs Velvet: What’s the Difference?

Velour vs Velvet

Velour and velvet are two different types of fabric that share similarities in their look and feel, but they are made using different methods. Velvet is a woven fabric that has a short dense pile on the surface, while velour is knit fabric that has a longer pile with a plush texture.

Velvet is typically made from silk or synthetic fibers, while velour is often made from cotton or synthetic fibers. Velvet has a richer, more luxurious look and feel, while velour is more casual and relaxed. Both fabrics are popular for clothing and upholstery.

Velour Fabric Care And Maintenance Tips

Whether natural or synthetic, fabric types tend to lose their lushness and usefulness when neglected and not properly maintained. Velour needs proper care to maintain its usefulness. 

To properly care for your velour fabric, you can try these methods. 

  • Before subjecting velour fabric clothing to any cleaning method, ensure you read the instructions on the fabric label to get more information on what to do. 
  • When washing materials made from velour fabric, it is ideal to use cold water. You can also add other fabric types to it, but ensure they’re of similar colors. 
  • Drying velour in an electric dryer, even on the lowest setting, could destroy the fabric nap, so it’s best to lay it out instead. In some cases, though, using a dryer might be an option for this material.

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