{"id":4642,"date":"2022-12-05T15:54:40","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T15:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=is_it_vegan&p=4642"},"modified":"2022-12-05T15:54:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T15:54:40","slug":"velvet","status":"publish","type":"is_it_vegan","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/is-it-vegan\/velvet\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Velvet Vegan?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Velvet\"Although many people associate veganism with a plant-based diet, most vegans expand their values to other areas of their lives, such as clothing and household products, and furniture. The question of whether velvet is vegan or not is therefore rather pertinent to most people who would call themselves vegan. Let\u2019s cut to the chase: Is velvet vegan? Well, as with many items we assess in the Is It Vegan?<\/a> section of our site, there is no definitive answer here. In other words, some fabrics that fall under the velvet umbrella (ooh, cosy!) are certainly vegan-friendly, while others are certainly not.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explore what velvet is and the materials it can be made from, and thus what allows\/stops it from being vegan. We\u2019ll also take a brief scout around for any versions of velvet that are definitely fine for vegans and that are environmentally sound too.<\/p>\n

What Is Velvet & What Can Stop It Being Vegan?<\/h2>\n

Velvet is a layered material (or fabric) that is soft to the touch and is used for a variety of products including clothing, upholstery, and even to enhance royal bling (like the Imperial State Crown<\/a> that was made for King George VI\u2019s coronation way back in 1937.<\/p>\n

Velvet can made from various fibres, including silk, cotton, wool, or also different synthetic materials. The distinctive softness of velvet is achieved by the short pile of threads, but this is particularly the case when the velvet in question is produced using silk. As we discuss elsewhere on our site, however, silk isn\u2019t vegan<\/a> as its production causes harm (and usually death) to the silkworms (animals) who produce the fibres.<\/p>\n

Velvet that is made from cotton is generally vegan friendly as cotton is vegan<\/a>, though there are sometimes ethical or environmental concerns regarding its production<\/a> that some vegans might baulk at, especially those who have come to veganism for environmental reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Do You Know If Velvet Is Vegan?<\/h3>\n
\"Silk
The fibres of silk, sometimes used to make velvet, are not vegan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some materials that are used for clothing and other products are rather obviously made from animals, including leather<\/a> and (perhaps a little less clearly) suede<\/a>. As such, there has been a big push from ethically minded producers and retailers to push the various vegan leather<\/a> options that are increasingly available. But when it comes to velvet, it\u2019s sometimes quite difficult to ascertain what the fabric in question is actually made from.<\/p>\n

If you are purchasing a velvet sofa, for instance, from a reputable retailer, they should label the product with details of the specific materials used. Even if it\u2019s not specifically listed, a good retailer should at least be able to find out the information for you. Often, however, companies don\u2019t feel the need to say anything more than \u201cvelvet three-seater sofa\u201d, without giving information about what that velvet was made from. Invariably, cotton or synthetic materials, such as rayon will have been used (or a blend of cotton and synthetic fibres), but unless it is specifically mentioned, it\u2019s better not to assume that only vegan-friendly fibres have been used.<\/p>\n

As well as silk, which comes from silkworms, sometimes other animal-derived fibres are used to make versions of velvet. These include wool<\/a> from sheep and potentially other animals, or even mohair from Angora goats.<\/p>\n

Types of Velvet<\/h3>\n

Here are some of the main types of velvet you may encounter. Note that most of these types of velvet can be made from various fibres (including silk) so you won\u2019t necessarily know whether it is vegan unless specifically labelled as such.<\/p>\n