Velour

For the record label, see Velour Recordings.

A pink velour bathrobe made of 100% polyester

1. Velour or velours is a plush, knitted fabric or textile. It is usually made from cotton but can also be made from synthetic materials such as polyester. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery. Other examples include car seats and leotards.

2. Velour or velour leather is also the name for rough natural leather with velvety touch (not to be mistaken with fabric).

Frequent uses

1. Velour can be a woven or a knitted fabric, allowing it to stretch. It combines the stretchy properties of knits with the rich appearance and feel of velvet. Velour is used in dance wear for the ease of movement it affords, and is also popular for warm, colorful, casual clothing. When used as upholstery, velour often is substituted for velvet.

The velour widely used in the manufacture of theater drapes and stage curtains is manufactured using the same weaving process as velvet: two sets of warps and wefts woven at the same time, with additional threads that will become the nap in between, then cut apart to produce the two separate tufted fabrics. Cotton velours used for this range from 16oz per linear yard to 32oz per linear yard, synthetic versions typically run 13oz to 32oz per linear yard.

In the last decade, velour has been used for pillow covers and mattress coverings. Luxury memory foam mattresses usually come outfitted with Jacquard velour covers, for their comfort and elasticity, as well as their flame resistance. Cotton velour is treated with flame retardant chemicals when used in this application. In contrast, many lower-end air mattresses come manufactured with velour sleeping surfaces.

2. Velour is also the name of rough natural leather (not to be mistaken with fabric). Its velvety touch is achieved by sanding its surface in a special way (chrome tanning). Plastered (tanned) leather is ground from the inside (the flesh), which forms on the surface delicate, soft layer. Used for footwear, clothing, upholstery. Sheepskins and lambs are finished in this way. This type of leather is often confused velvet suede and chamois.

Pop Culture

Velour is the favorite fabric of the character Zapp Brannigan, of the popular TV series Futurama. His quarters (also known as the love-nasium) are host to a wide variety of velour made items, ranging from carpet, uniforms, bed sheets, etc. (this is a comedic reference to the use of velour for costumes in television's Star Trek: The Original Series' uniforms).

See also

• Velveteen
• Duvetyne
• Rep (fabric)