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Velour - The word velour is French for velvet. Surface yarns are silk, cotton, or rayon. Mohair
This is a general name for velvet fabrics with velvet is velvet with a surface of mohair yarns.
a pile of cotton, rayon, or silk. Used for Cotton velvet is velvet with a surface of cotton
draperies. Usually called velvet when applied yarns. Rayon velvet is velvet with a surface of
to upholstery fabrics. rayon yarns, and so on.
Velvet - General name for fabrics with a pile Velveteen - A low-priced cotton flat fabric
surface or “third dimension” made up of erect
with a false pile made with an extra set of
yarns woven at right angles to the base. filling yarns which are cut and brushed to
Pile height is less than 1/8 inch (3.2mm). simulate a pile. Made the same way as
corduroy, but the surface is not ribbed.
Common Upholstery Fabrics and Fibers
Fabric Type Characteristics Cleaning Cautions
Cotton Highly absorbent fiber Stronger when wet than when dry
Herculon Durable, almost completely stain- If backed with latex, use caution when
proof fiber with a low water absorb- spotting
bancy rate, and excellent fastness
Linen Very strong, highly absorbent Highly absorbent synthetic fiber with
natural fiber excellent fastness
Nylon Extremely strong, durable synthetic Few, if any, serious disadvantages
that cleans and dries easily
Rayon
Highly absorbent synthetic fiber
If overwet, dyes have a tendency to brown
with excellent fastness
Silk Extremely strong natural fiber Sheen may be lost in cleaning
Acid cleaners or spotters must be
thoroughly removed with rinsing.
Wool Very strong natural fiber that is Whites may brown if overwet
moderately absorbent
Velvet Not a fiber, but a weave May be composed of many different fibers
so prior testing is essential
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