Understanding velvet compositions

These fibres produce an exceptionally deep pile and are the height of luxury in textiles. The drier surface is very hardwearing and forgiving of sway, these velvets look as-new ten years on. These noble fibres are often blended with cotton, linen, or silk to soften the hand and increase lustre.

Possessing a natural shine, Mokum’s Lama Velvet is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial with moisture-wicking properties which increase the textile’s water, stain, and fire resistance.

Cotton velvets have a very flat appearance. Due to shading they must be used conventionally, but when applied to a 3D piece of furniture the colour variation blooms to amplify the shape.

Cotton velvets are strong and patina well, if marked in transit the pile will revive overnight if rolled out and misted.

Dry and crisp to the touch, linen velvets offer a more organic texture. The mottled, irregular surface is characterful and lived in. Mokum’s best-selling Bespoke velvet sought to emulate the appearance of linen velvet with the soft touch of viscose.

The ultimate luxury, silk velvets are ancient textiles. Their luminous quality is inimitable and like viscose they take colour exceptionally well. Favoured by the Italian Medici family, rich shades of burgundy and gold are synonymous with silk velvet.

Often woven on historic looms, sheep's wool is a fine but very long fibre which produces an impressive pile. With the natural qualities of inherent flame retardance, dirt repellence, anti-static, and temperature regulating, wool is an eternally popular fibre.

Soft but strong, viscose is a regenerated fibre with luxurious silk-like qualities. Offering a luxurious sheen without the shine of polyester and taking colour exceptionally well, Viscose has become a favoured fibre in the Mokum range as it

With a tendency to watermark, viscose cannot be spot cleaned. Alternatively viscose textiles can be misted, essentially watermarking the entire fabric – reach out to your local showroom or sales representative to learn more.

Polyester velvets are extremely hardwearing. Often featuring stain resistant and flame-retardant attributes, they are ideal in commercial environments.

Many polyester ‘velvets’ are not true velvets; in fact, they are knitted or brushed textiles with a velvet look. Offered at accessible prices, these textiles do not shade like true velvets and can therefore be railroaded to increase usability.

A synthetic fibre, solution dyed olefin is a superior textile for high sun environments – offering incomparable fade resistance and the ability to wash mould away.

Think of piece or yarn dyed textiles like a radish, coloured on the outside, white on the inside, and solution dyed textiles like a carrot, coloured all the way through. This means that as the sun shines on the fabric, it cannot penetrate the colour.