What is Velour?

Velour is a velvet-like knitted fabric with a surface of cut short pile; it is described as the knitted counterpart of woven velvet (Heddels). In the traditional method it is knitted on a single-bed circular machine: of two yarns, one forms the ground and the other the pile loops on the surface, and the tops of the loops are cut afterwards (MEB, 2013; US 4537048). The TDK (Turkish Language Association) dictionary gives velur as the equivalent of kadife (velvet), but in structure velour is knitted and velvet is woven.

What does velour mean?

The TDK entry for velur only points to kadife (from French velours), and the definition of kadife ends with “velur”. The modules of the Turkish Ministry of National Education (MEB) list the pile fabrics knitted on single-bed circular machines as “plush, velvet, terry” and mention velvet among knitted fabrics (MEB, 2011; 2013). In other words, in Turkish the words velur, kadife and pelüş (plush) overlap.

English sources draw the distinction more clearly. Heddels defines velour as generally a thick, short, cut-pile knit or woven fabric and sets it apart from velvet by its being knitted: velour is lighter and stretchier. In this glossary, “velour” is used to mean knitted velvet (the Turkish velur).

How is velour made?

In pile knitting, two separate yarns are fed: the first forms the ground and the second forms the pile loops; special pile sinkers draw the pile yarn into long loops on the surface. Pile height depends on the height of the sinkers. One face of the fabric looks like single jersey and the other is dominated by the pile (MEB, 2013).

The pile loops in fabric knitted this way are not cut. To obtain velour, the tops of the long loops are sheared, leaving two cut pile ends from each loop. Brushing can replace shearing, or be applied after shearing to raise the pile fibers (US 4537048, 1985, background section). Cotton Incorporated likewise defines knitted velour as a sheared terry-looped (pile) knit fabric (CottonWorks). If the loops are not cut, the surface stays looped; the MEB module counts terry fabric among the same pile knits.

Fabrics confused with velour

Fiber, weight and uses

Guide pages say velour is mostly made of cotton or polyester (Contrado; Sewport). TextileGlossary says velour was first made of silk and later of cotton, rayon and polyester, and that stretch types with elastane also exist.

No reliable source for a velour weight range was found; weight varies with yarn, machine setting and pile height. To find the weight of a sample, use the fabric GSM calculator.

Contrado says velour is used in comfortable garments such as sweatpants, pajamas, slippers, leggings and robes. TextileGlossary mentions cotton velour in clothing, loungewear and baby products, stretch velour in sports and dance wear and costumes, and polyester velour in upholstery, home décor and automotive uses.

What to specify when sourcing velour

1. Name the structure: “knitted velour”, “woven velvet” or “velour terry (towel)”. The three are different productions.
2. Ask for the composition as a percentage: if stretch is needed, also write the elastane ratio.
3. Ask for the weight and the pile height together: ask whether the weight was measured greige or finished. To convert between kilograms and meters, use the meter-kg calculator.
4. Ask about velour's post-wash dimensional change: ISO 5077 and ISO 6330 should be named in the report. The shrinkage calculator helps with the cutting allowance.

Frequently asked questions

Is velour the same as velvet?

Not in structure. Velvet is a warp-pile weave whose pile is cut to one height (CottonWorks); velour is knitted and, because its ground is knitted, stretchier (Heddels; Contrado). In Turkish the two names are often used interchangeably, and TDK gives velur as the equivalent of velvet. When ordering, state the structure by saying “knitted velour” or “woven velvet”.

Is velour breathable?

Velour is a structure name, not a fiber; the result depends on fiber, weight and structure. EU Regulation 1007/2011 on textile fibre names (Annex IX) uses agreed moisture regains of 8.5% for cotton and 1.5% for polyester; cotton velour absorbs moisture better. Suganthi et al. (2024) report that lower weight, lower thickness and an open structure increase water-vapor permeability. No published measurement was found for how the pile layer affects permeability; for your own fabric, ask for air permeability (EN ISO 9237) and water-vapor resistance (EN ISO 11092) values. Details are in breathable fabrics.

Is a velour towel the same as velour fabric?

No. A velour (cut-pile) towel is woven; its loops are cut on one face after weaving, and cut loops absorb less liquid (MÖVE). Knitted velour is made by knitting and is used in comfortable garments such as sweatpants and pajamas (Contrado).