When it comes to furnishing fabrics, there’s one texture I go weak at the knees for: velvet. And it seems I’m not in the minority – the global love affair for this sumptuous material continues to grow.
It’s not exactly clear where velvet originates from, but most sources claim it comes from the far and middle East, many centuries ago. This sounds pretty accurate, as the rich, tactile nature of velvet does possess an inherent exotic quality.
Fast-forward to the present day, and the interior soft furnishings market is brimming with different varieties. South African fabric house Hertex has just released a book called Limelight, which contains both cut and printed velvets in vivid colours, with animal-print characteristics. Another of its latest velvets is Giovanna, a soft and drapey modern printed fabric with a luxurious sheen.
Adaptive to suit every need, you can find hard-wearing, washable velvets for upholstery, or light, crushed shimmery velvets for scatters and curtains. Gone are the days of velvet being a delicate material that needs to be handled with care.
Velvets have featured big at all of the latest design shows, specifically in printed format. However, for me the appeal really lies in the depth of colour that you can achieve with velvet. Love it or hate it, this versatile texture is here to stay, and it will continue to reinvent itself in the interiors world over and over again.
Best wishes,
Jess from Hector and Bailey
Image: Hertex
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