Woven fabric
Velvet
An extra warp system forms a dense pile above the woven ground.
Also searched as: Warp-pile velvet
Open the interactive guide ↗How it is made
Pile warp yarns rise from a ground cloth to form loops that may be cut, left intact or combined in patterns. The short upright pile gives the surface its characteristic light response.
How to recognize it
Gently change the pile direction to see the shade change; examine the backing for a woven ground.
Common uses
- Eveningwear
- Upholstery
- Draperies
What to distinguish
Woven velvet uses a pile warp, while corduroy forms its characteristic pile from filling floats. A velvet-like appearance alone does not identify the fiber.
Sources & further reading
Research checked 2026-09-27. Descriptions are original summaries; references support terminology and construction, not every product sold under a name.