For centuries velvet has been revered as a noble fabric which was often associated with aristocracy. The luxurious fabric was discovered in Egypt in the 2000 BC and quickly gained importance amongst the powerful rulers, as it symbolized wealth and royalty. Its captivating sheen can enliven the entire area, yet emanates a subtle calmness that can be felt instantaneously. Though there are number of fabrics used for upholstery today, velvet still happens to be a big hit with people who are looking to delight their guests. The term velvet is strictly used to describe the technique of weaving that creates it. Various fibers used to manufacture velvet include silk, cotton, mohair, linen, nylon, viscose, rayon, etc. These fibers can be used in different combinations with varying manufacturing processes to give contrasting velvet types with respect to weight, lustre, and patterns.
We often associate velvet with dark colours, especially, plum; however, velvet also looks lustrous in light colours such as olive green, silver, light royal blue, bronze, etc. The important thing to keep in mind is that it must be in contrast to the colour of the wall when used as a curtain fabric (dark drapery with dark walls may look too drab). Raymakers, a renowned Dutch textile company, offers an impressive assortment of quality velvet made up of fibres like silk, linen, polyester, mohair, etc. York stocks high-quality furnishing fabrics from international brands such as Raymakers that are available in Dubai and other parts of Middle East.
Blackout velvet curtains that are also able to provide thermal insulation because of their thickness happen to be quite famous all over the world. Upholstery & drapery velvets in embossed, crushed, & pile-on-pile variants lend artistic value to the fabric and make them more pleasing to the eye. Cotton velvet, also known as velveteen, is quite durable and may contain some amount of silk mixed with cotton. Due to its high durability & smooth velvety feel, it is popular for making curtains and upholstery. As pure silk velvet is expensive for most interior designing budgets, other fibers (natural or otherwise) are increasingly attracting more buyers and provide a more prudent option to add velvety elegance to homes.
