Velour, occasionally velours, is a plush, knitted fabric or textile similar to velvet or velveteen. It can be made from polyester, spandex, or cotton, or a cotton-polyester blend.[1] Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery.[2] Velour typically has a medium-length pile, shorter than velvet but longer than velveteen.[3]
History and uses
Velour originated in France, although it is unclear who first created it. 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.[4] 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.[5] The low cost of velour allows for its use by people of all economic classes.[6]
In the 1970s, velour gained popularity through clothing trends such as athleisure tracksuits.[7][8]