Velvet vs Velour: What's the Difference?

Walk into any fabric store and velvet and velour often sit side by side. Both feel soft and plush, but they are not the same fabric. Run a hand across each one, and the difference becomes clear immediately. Velvet has a dense, smooth pile that catches light almost like liquid silk, while velour feels softer and stretchier, closer to a favorite sweatshirt.

The difference comes down to construction. Velvet is woven using a double cloth technique that creates its signature short, upright pile. Velour is knitted instead, which gives it more stretch and a noticeably more casual feel.

So how do you define velour compared to velvet? Velour is a knitted fabric with a short, cut pile surface, most commonly made from cotton or polyester. It is prized for its stretch, softness, and everyday use in casual and athletic wear, which sets it apart from velvet before you even choose a bolt.

Key Takeaways

• Velvet is woven, structured, and formal. Its dense pile reflects light beautifully and holds its shape well, making it ideal for high-end fashion, upholstery, and special occasion wear.
• Velour is knitted, stretchy, and casual. Its softer hand feel and natural give make it comfortable for activewear, loungewear, and everyday garments.
• Structure matters. Velvet’s woven construction creates stability, while velour’s knit construction adds flexibility and movement.
• Cost and care differ. Velvet tends to be more expensive and requires gentler handling, while velour is often more affordable and easier to maintain.

Velvet vs Velour Quick Comparison

What is Velvet?

Velvet has a long history in fashion and design, appearing on royal robes centuries ago and modern red carpets today. Its defining feature is a dense, plush pile made from short fibers that stand upright, creating a smooth, even surface. Light reflects off that pile, giving velvet a soft glow that photographs beautifully and looks striking in person.

Here’s how it looks: 

Velvet’s defining feature is how it’s made. This fabric is woven, not knitted, which gives it structure and stability. The pile forms when you twist two layers of fabric face-to-face, then cut them apart. What you’re left with is a textile that’s soft to the touch but firm enough to hold intricate shapes and tailored silhouettes.

Velvet can be made from a variety of fibres, including silk, cotton, polyester, rayon, or blends. Each fiber brings something different to the table. For example, silk velvet feels smooth and drapes like a dream. Cotton velvet, on the other hand, is more affordable and easier to care for. The fiber you choose changes the weight, drape, and price point of the final product.

How Velvet Is Made

Velvet is woven on a specialized loom that forms two fabric layers at once, connected by vertical threads that create the pile. Once woven, a blade cuts through those threads, separating the layers and exposing the plush surface on both sides. Pile height varies by intended use: shorter piles create a sleeker, formal look, while longer piles feel softer and more casual.

Velvet can be made from silk, cotton, polyester, rayon, or blends of these fibers, and each choice changes the fabric’s weight, drape, and price point. Silk velvet feels smooth and drapes beautifully, while cotton velvet is more practical and easier to care for day-to-day.

Some velvet goes through additional finishing processes. Crushed velvet, for example, is twisted or pressed while wet to create that signature textured look, like this: 

Uses of Velvet

• Evening gowns and formalwear. Velvet’s natural sheen photographs well under event lighting, and its structure helps garments hold shape through long events.

• Blazers and tailored pieces. Velvet blazers have made a serious comeback in recent years, and for good reason. The fabric brings texture and depth to structured garments without feeling too heavy. Velvet holds a crisp edge, which makes it perfect for tailoring. You’ll see it in menswear-inspired jackets and soft, feminine blouses that need a little extra polish.

• Upholstery and home decor. Velvet isn’t just for clothing. It’s been a staple in interior design for decades, bringing warmth and sophistication to furniture, drapery, and decorative pillows. Velvet upholstery feels plush and inviting, and it holds up well with proper maintenance. The fabric’s ability to hold rich, saturated colors makes it a favorite for accent pieces that anchor a room.

• Accessories and costume design. Velvet holds shape well under stage lighting, which makes it common in theatrical costumes and performance wear. See the costume and cosplay collection for velvet suited to performance pieces.

Types of Velvet Fabric

Velvet comes in several distinct types, each suited to different projects and budgets. The differences show up mainly in fiber content, finish, and intended use.

Silk Velvet

Silk velvet is the most luxurious version of the fabric, with a natural sheen that synthetic blends cannot quite match. It drapes beautifully and feels cool against the skin, which is why it remains a favorite for high-end evening wear and bridal gowns. The downside? It’s delicate, expensive, and requires careful handling.  

Crushed Velvet

Crushed velvet has a signature crinkled texture created by twisting or pressing the fabric while it is still damp.

This finish gives crushed velvet a shimmery, almost bohemian feel that works well in statement pieces and vintage-inspired jackets.

Stretch Velvet

Stretch velvet combines the plush feel of traditional velvet with added elasticity, usually from spandex or elastane blends. This makes it well-suited for fitted garments like bodycon dresses, leggings, and dancewear, since it moves easily with the body during performance.

Stretch velvet moves with the body, which is why it’s so popular in performance costumes and athleisure-inspired pieces. We carry stretch velvet in over 50 colors, making it easy to find the perfect shade for any project.

Upholstery Velvet

Stretch velvet moves with the body, which is why it’s so popular in performance costumes and athleisure-inspired pieces. We carry stretch velvet in over 50 colors, making it easy to find the perfect shade for any project.

Velveteen

Velveteen is often confused with velvet, but the two are woven differently. Velveteen uses a single-cloth construction rather than velvet’s double-cloth process, and its pile comes from cutting weft threads instead of warp threads. The result is a lighter, less dense fabric that is more affordable and easier to care for.

What is Velour?

Velour is velvet’s more relaxed, knitted counterpart, sharing a soft plush surface but produced through a completely different process. Instead of weaving, velour is knitted on a machine, and that construction gives it natural stretch, flexibility, and a distinctly casual feel. Velour rarely appears in formalwear, but it shows up constantly in activewear, loungewear, and cozy tracksuits built around comfort.

Velour’s pile comes from knitting small loops into the surface, then shearing them to a uniform, even height. Most velour is made from cotton, polyester, or a blend of both, and it lacks the sheen that gives velvet its formal shine.

How Velour Is Made

Velour starts as a knitted base fabric, with small loops formed into the surface as it is produced. Those loops are sheared to create the soft, even pile that velour is known for, and because the fabric is knitted, it stretches naturally in every direction. This knitting process is also faster and cheaper than weaving, which helps explain why velour is more widely available and affordable.

Uses of Velour

• Athleisure and activewear. Velour became iconic in early 2000s activewear and pop culture, and hoodies, joggers, and leggings made from it remain popular today.
• Loungewear and sleepwear. Cotton velour is breathable and doesn’t trap heat easily, making it gentle on sensitive skin for pajamas and robes.
• Children’s clothing. Velour holds up well to frequent washing and active play, which makes it a practical choice for kids’ sweatshirts and onesies.
• Towels and bathrobes. Cotton velour is absorbent and improves with each wash, and its smooth surface resists snagging and pilling over time.

Types of Velour Fabric

Velour also comes in several types, shaped mainly by fiber choice and finishing method. Each type balances softness, durability, and price differently.

Cotton Velour

Cotton velour is soft, breathable, and naturally absorbent, making it the most common choice for towels and robes. It can shrink if not prewashed, and it doesn’t hold color as vibrantly as synthetic blends.

Polyester Velour

Polyester velour is durable, colorfast, and generally more affordable than cotton velour, which makes it a go-to for performance wear. It dries faster and pills less than cotton, though it is less breathable against the skin.

Stretch Velour

Stretch velour adds spandex or elastane for extra movement, which suits fitted garments like leggings and bodysuits. It’s lighter and more form-fitting than standard velour.

Bamboo Velour

Bamboo velour is a newer, more sustainable option prized for its naturally antibacterial and moisture-wicking properties. It has a silky feel and subtle sheen closer to velvet, which makes it popular for baby clothing and eco-conscious loungewear.

Velvet vs Velour: The Core Differences

Beyond basic definitions, several concrete factors separate these two fabrics in everyday use. Understanding each one helps clarify which fabric fits a given project.

Fabric Structure

The biggest difference between these fabrics is construction. Velvet is woven using a double cloth process that creates a dense, structured fabric with minimal stretch, while velour is knitted, giving it natural elasticity and a more flexible feel.

Paisley burnout velvet by the yard

Texture, Fiber, and Drape

Velvet has a smooth, polished surface with a subtle sheen and a short, dense pile, while velour has a softer, more matte surface with a slightly longer, less uniform pile. Velvet is often made from silk, rayon, or polyester, and velour is usually cotton, polyester, or a blend of both. Velvet also has more body and structure, which suits tailored garments, while velour is lighter and drapes more casually.

Cost, Durability, and Use Cases

Velvet tends to cost more, especially in silk or fine synthetic blends, and it typically needs more careful handling and maintenance. Velour is generally more affordable and easier to care for, resists wrinkles, and holds up well to machine washing. Velvet suits formal occasions and statement furniture, while velour suits casual wear, activewear, and everyday home textiles.

Which Fabric Should You Choose?

The right choice depends on the look, feel, and function a project requires. Use the guidance below to match the fabric to the task.

Choose Velvet If

Velvet fits best when a project calls for elegance, structure, or visual impact. Consider it for the following:

• You are designing formalwear or special-occasion garments that need to hold their shape through long events. Explore the dress and formalwear collections for options.
• You need a fabric with a luxurious sheen that catches and reflects light.
• You are working on upholstery or home decor pieces that need durability and warmth.
• You want a fabric with real weight and body for structured designs.

Choose Velour If

Velour fits best when comfort, stretch, and easy care matter most. Consider it for the following:

• You are designing activewear, loungewear, or everyday casual clothing.
• You need a fabric that is machine washable and resists wrinkles without extra effort.
• You are working on children’s clothing or bath linens that need to hold up to frequent washing.
• You want a plush, casual fabric without the structured formality of velvet.

Conclusion

Velvet and velour may look similar at a glance, but the differences become clear once you understand how each is made. Velvet is woven, structured, and formal, the fabric to reach for when elegance and drape matter most. Velour is knitted, stretchy, and casual, better suited to comfort, flexibility, and low-maintenance care.