Side by side
Velvet vs Velveteen
Velvet and velveteen are both cut-pile cloths, and the difference is which direction the pile comes from. True velvet raises its pile from an extra WARP, woven over rods or face-to-face and cut, classically in silk. Velveteen raises its pile from extra WEFT floats slit after weaving, the fustian method, classically in cotton. The result is two depths of the same idea: liquid luxury and washable plush.
Velvet
No. 052warp pile, cut · first documented Middle Ages
Velveteen
No. 073weft pile, cut · first documented 1700s
The differences
| Aspect | Velvet | Velveteen |
|---|---|---|
| Pile source | Extra warp (lengthwise), cut. | Extra weft floats (crosswise), slit after weaving. |
| Classic fiber | Silk; now also rayon and polyester. | Cotton. |
| Pile height and luster | Taller pile, deep shifting sheen. | Shorter pile, quiet matte plush. |
| Behavior | Crushes and bruises; dry-clean territory. | Wears hard, washes sanely. |
| Register | Eveningwear, drapery, thrones. | Children's clothes, daywear, upholstery that gets used. |
Which to choose
Stroke it and tip it to the light. A tall pile that flashes and shades is velvet; a short, even, matte plush is velveteen. Buy velvet for occasions and velveteen for life.
Common questions
- Is velveteen just cheap velvet?
- It is a different construction, not a lower grade of the same one. Weft-pile velveteen cannot reach velvet's pile height or sheen, but it outwears silk velvet in daily use, which is why it was the practical plush for two centuries.
- Where does corduroy fit?
- Corduroy is velveteen's ribbed sibling: the same weft-pile fustian construction, but with the pile cut in lengthwise rows (wales) instead of across the whole face.