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Glossary Of Fabric Terms [15]

V Vat Dye A water-insoluble dye, such as indigo, that is applied to a fabric in a reducing bath, which converts it to a soluble form, the color being obtained on subsequent oxidation in the fabric fibers. The name of the process refers to dyeing that takes place in a bucket or vat.
Vectran Fiber A manufactured fiber, spun from a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) created by Celanese Acetate LLC and now manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Velour A plush, knitted fabric or textile similar to velvet. It is usually made from cotton but can also be made from synthetic materials such as polyester. Velour is used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing and upholstery. Other examples include car seats and leotards. Velour can also refer to a rough natural leather sometimes called velour leather.
Velours du Kasaï Kind of textile fabric made in Kasai, a province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Traditionally, the weaving is done by men of the Shoowa from the Kuba ethnic group, while the embroidery is reserved to women. Ideally, the embroiderers should be pregnant. The technique is still practised. The fabric is made of very fine fibre from the inside of the leaves of young palm trees. The leaves are dried in the sun, then split along their length and connected to form a basic warp of raffia. Fine leaf fibres are then interweaved in a woof to create the velvet effect. This is then wrapped around the waist to create a loincloth known as Mapel (for men) or Ntshak (for women). The cloth is heavy and expensive and is not normally intended to be worn, but is used as a bed covering or on the royal throne. Individual items take from several months to a year to produce. Cloths were used as currency or given as gifts.
Velvet A type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel. By extension, the word velvety means "smooth like velvet." Velvet can be made from several different kinds of fibers, traditionally, the most expensive of which is silk. Much of the velvet sold today as "silk velvet" is actually a mix of rayon and silk.
Velveteen A cloth made in imitation of velvet. Normally cotton, the term is sometimes applied to a mixture of silk and cotton. Some velveteens are a kind of fustian, having a rib of velvet pile alternating with a plain depression.
Venetian Wool Also called Venetian cloth, it is a wool or worsted fabric made in satin or twill weave and sometimes napped. It is used in the manufacture of lightweight coats, suits, skirts, and dresses.
Venice lace Also known as Point de Venise, it is a Venetian needle lace from the 17th century characterized by scrolling floral patterns with additional floral motifs worked in relief.
Ventile Registered trademark used to brand a special high-quality woven cotton fabric first developed by scientists at the Shirley Institute in Manchester, England. Originally created to replace a shortage of flax - used for fire hoses and water buckets - its properties were also found to be ideal for pilots' immersion suits. Also used for military uniforms, and popular with birdwatchers and naturalists because it is quiet in use.
Vintage Generic term for garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g. "vintage clothing store."
Vinyl coated polyester (PVC) Material frequently used for flexible fabric structures. It is made up of a polyester scrim, a bonding or adhesive agent, and an exterior PVC coating. Depending on its formula, the PVC coating makes the material waterproof and resistant to dirt, mildew, oil, salt, chemicals and UV rays and gives the material added strength and durability.
Virtual Product A product developed and prototyped in a completely digital 2D/3D environment. VPD typically takes place in a collaborative, web-based environment that brings together designers, customers/consumers, and value chain partners around a single source of real-time product "truth."
Viscose A soft and lightweight fabric manufactured from a plant-based material called cellulose. Viscose is typically made from woody plants, such as trees and bamboo. Viscose fiber is a soft fiber commonly used in dresses, linings, shirts, shorts, coats, jackets, and other outerwear. It is also used in industrial yarns (tyre cord), upholstery and carpets, and in the casting of Cellophane.
Viyella Blend of wool and cotton first woven in 1893 in England, and soon to be the "first branded fabric in the world". It was made of 55 percent merino wool and 45 percent cotton in a twill weave, developed by James and Robert Sissons of William Hollins & Company. Following increasing emphasis on garment manufacture over the years, Viyella is now a fashion brand for clothes and home furnishings made of a variety of fabrics. The original wool/cotton blend is no longer on sale.
Voile A soft, sheer fabric, usually made of 100% cotton or cotton blends including linen or polyester. The term comes from French, and means veil. Because of its light weight, the fabric is mostly used in soft furnishing. In hot countries, voile is used as window treatments and mosquito nets. When used as curtain material, voile is similar to net curtains.