Velour, occasionallyvelours, is a plush,knitted fabric ortextile similar tovelvet orvelveteen. It can be made frompolyester,spandex,cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend.[1] Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, includingclothing andupholstery.[2] Velour typically has a medium-lengthpile, shorter than velvet but longer than velveteen.[3]
Velour originated in France, although it is unclear who first created it. There is a 1591 entry in the accounts of Nathaniel Bacon of Stiffkey, Norfolk, England, "for half a yard of vellewre to make pomelles for the sydsaddelles" for 2 shillings' cost. (Note this is in distinction to velvet ("vellet") found elsewhere in the accounts).[4]
Velour is a knitted fabric, which makes it stretchy (unlike velvet and velveteen, which are woven). Velour is soft, allows freedom of movement, and is used for activewear and loungewear.[5] Historically, velour was cheaper than velvet and was thus often used for home furnishings and decor which would take heavy wear and tear. However, modern manufacturing techniques make velvet affordable for home furnishings.[6] The low cost of velour allows for its use by people of all economic classes.[7]
In the 1970s, velour gained popularity through clothing trends such asathleisure tracksuits.[8][9]
Media related toVelour at Wikimedia Commons
