Velvet is a woven fabric with a dense pile — thousands of short, cut fibers standing up from the base fabric. The pile creates a distinctive directional sheen: run your hand one way across velvet and it looks one color, the other way and it looks darker. It's the most tactile and visually rich of the lingerie fabrics.
In lingerie, velvet is used for luxurious, statement pieces — bodysuits, bustiers, and chemises. It became fashionable again in the 2010s as part of the 90s revival.
How to Identify
- Visible nap / pile on the surface
- Directional sheen that changes with viewing angle
- Opaque, plush to the touch
- Usually in rich, saturated colors
