Suede vs. Velvet — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
Suede is a soft, napped leather made from the underside of animal skin; Velvet is a woven, tufted fabric with a short, dense pile, giving it a smooth feel.
Difference Between Suede and Velvet
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Key Differences
Suede and Velvet both offer unique textures, with Suede coming from the underside of animal skins and presenting a brushed or napped surface. Velvet, contrastingly, is a type of woven tufted fabric, distinguished by its short, dense pile that results in its smooth and soft surface.
While Suede is inherently a type of leather derived from the flesh side of skins (often from lambs, goats, pigs, or calves), Velvet can be made from various natural or synthetic fibers, including silk, cotton, or polyester. This makes Suede more limited in origin, while Velvet has a diverse range of compositions.
Suede's napped finish is achieved through a process of buffing and brushing, granting it that fuzzy surface. Velvet's plush texture emerges from the weaving process, wherein threads are evenly distributed, creating its iconic sheen and soft feel.
In terms of applications, Suede is frequently used in fashion for items like shoes, jackets, and bags due to its soft texture and flexibility. Velvet, on the other hand, finds its place in both apparel and home décor, such as dresses, curtains, and upholstery, recognized for its luxurious appearance.
Both Suede and Velvet require particular care when cleaning. Suede is prone to water damage and can be stained easily, necessitating specialized cleaning methods. Velvet, especially when made from natural fibers, can be delicate and can lose its sheen or get crushed if not handled with care.
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Comparison Chart
Material Origin
Underside of animal skins.
Woven tufted fabric.
Texture
Napped, brushed finish.
Short, dense pile, smooth.
Common Uses
Shoes, jackets, bags.
Clothing, upholstery, curtains.
Care and Maintenance
Prone to water damage, specialized cleaning.
Delicate, can lose sheen, specialized cleaning.
Composition Variability
Primarily leather.
Can be made from various fibers.
Compare with Definitions
Suede
A soft leather with a brushed texture.
The Suede boots felt incredibly soft to the touch.
Velvet
A material with a dense, short pile resulting in a silky feel.
She draped the Velvet curtains in her bedroom.
Suede
Leather that's been buffed for a velvety surface.
The Suede gloves were both stylish and warm.
Velvet
A woven fabric known for its soft, smooth pile.
The Velvet dress shimmered under the lights.
Suede
Suede (pronounced (SWAYD)) is a type of leather with a napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, shirts, purses, furniture, and other items. The term comes from the French gants de Suède, which literally means "gloves from Sweden".Suede is made from the underside of the animal skin, which is softer and more pliable than the outer skin layer, though not as durable.
Velvet
A textile with a smooth, soft surface due to evenly distributed threads.
He wore a Velvet blazer to the gala.
Suede
Leather with the flesh side rubbed to make a velvety nap
Suede shoes
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive soft feel. By extension, the word velvety means "smooth like velvet".
Suede
Leather with a soft napped surface.
Velvet
A closely woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon, that has a thick short pile on one side
An armchair covered in velvet
Red velvet curtains
Suede
Fabric made to resemble suede.
Velvet
A soft fabric having a smooth, dense pile and a plain underside.
Suede
A type of soft leather, made from calfskin, with a brushed texture to resemble fabric, often used to make boots, clothing and fashion accessories.
Velvet
Something suggesting the smooth surface of velvet.
Suede
Made of suede.
Velvet
Smoothness; softness.
Suede
(transitive) To make (leather) into suede.
Velvet
The soft, furry covering on the developing antlers of deer.
Suede
(transitive) To finish (fabric) by abrasion, giving it a fibrous surface.
Velvet
The winnings of a gambler.
Suede
Swedish glove leather, - usually made from lambskins tanned with willow bark. Also used adjectively; as, suede gloves.
Velvet
A profit or gain beyond what is expected or due.
Suede
Leather with a napped surface
Velvet
New England See milkshake.
Suede
A fabric made to resemble suede leather
Velvet
A closely woven fabric (originally of silk, now also of cotton or man-made fibres) with a thick short pile on one side.
Suede
Leather from the underside of animal skins.
The bag was made from high-quality Suede.
Velvet
Very fine fur, including the skin and fur on a deer's antlers.
Suede
A napped finish leather.
She wore a Suede jacket that complemented her outfit.
Velvet
A female chinchilla; a sow.
Suede
A type of leather known for its fuzzy texture.
The interior of the car was lined with luxurious Suede.
Velvet
The drug dextromethorphan.
Velvet
Money acquired by gambling.
Velvet
To cover with velvet or with a covering of a similar texture.
Velvet
(cooking) To coat raw meat in starch, then in oil, preparatory to frying.
Velvet
To remove the velvet from a deer's antlers.
Velvet
To soften; to mitigate.
Velvet
(of a cat's claws) to retract.
Velvet
Made of velvet.
Velvet
Soft and delicate, like velvet; velvety.
Velvet
(politics) peaceful, carried out without violence; especially as pertaining to the peaceful breakup of Czechoslovakia.
Velvet
A silk fabric, having a short, close nap of erect threads. Inferior qualities are made with a silk pile on a cotton or linen back, or with other soft fibers such as nylon, acetate, or rayon.
Velvet
The soft and highly vascular deciduous skin which envelops and nourishes the antlers of deer during their rapid growth.
Velvet
Something likened to velvet{1} in being soft or luxurious; as, a lawn of velvet.
Velvet
Made of velvet; soft and delicate, like velvet; velvety.
Velvet
To pain velvet.
Velvet
To make like, or cover with, velvet.
Velvet
A silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
Velvet
Smooth and soft to sight or hearing or touch or taste
Velvet
Resembling velvet in having a smooth soft surface
Velvet
A plush, tufted textile often seen as luxurious.
The Velvet cushion was incredibly soft to sit on.
Velvet
Fabric characterized by its sheen and soft texture.
The antique chair was upholstered in rich blue Velvet.
Common Curiosities
Is Suede a type of Velvet?
No, Suede is a type of leather, while Velvet is a woven fabric.
Are Suede products more expensive than Velvet ones?
Not necessarily; the cost depends on the quality and origin of both materials.
Can you waterproof Suede?
Yes, there are specialized products designed to make Suede water-resistant.
Is all Velvet made from silk?
No, Velvet can be made from various fibers, including cotton, polyester, and more.
Can I machine-wash Suede or Velvet?
Typically, both materials require special cleaning, and machine washing isn't recommended.
Which material is more delicate, Suede or Velvet?
Both can be delicate; Suede is prone to water damage, while Velvet can crush easily.
Why does Velvet appear shiny?
The sheen comes from its short, dense pile reflecting light.
Can both Suede and Velvet be dyed in multiple colors?
Yes, both materials can be dyed in a variety of colors.
How are the textures of Suede and Velvet achieved?
Suede is buffed and brushed for its texture, while Velvet's texture results from its weaving process.
Is Velvet vegan?
Velvet made from synthetic or plant-based fibers is vegan, but not if made from silk.
Which is warmer, Suede or Velvet?
Suede, being a form of leather, generally offers more warmth than Velvet.
Do both materials originate from animals?
Suede does, being leather, but Velvet can be made from a range of natural and synthetic fibers.
Which material is older in terms of human use?
Both have ancient origins, but Velvet, as a woven fabric, likely predates the specific creation of Suede leather.
Can synthetic versions of both materials be found?
Yes, there are synthetic variations of both Suede and Velvet available.
Are Suede and Velvet considered luxury materials?
Both can be, depending on their quality and application, but Velvet often has a more luxurious connotation.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
