Plush and faux fur

Plush fabrics: comfort, softness, and a touch of luxury

Plush fabrics embody comfort, softness, and a touch of luxury. These sumptuous fabrics have been used for a variety of purposes for centuries, from cuddly toys to luxurious upholstery. Plush fabrics have many applications, with cuddly toys perhaps being the most obvious. The soft surface of plush fabrics makes them perfect for making teddy bears, stuffed animals, and other toys designed to be hugged and held.

In addition, plush fabrics are widely used in interior decoration, from soft cushions to sumptuous blankets and upholstery.

Not least, plush is a commonly used fabric in the fashion industry. Plush fabrics are often used in coats and jackets, especially for winter clothing. The thick, soft texture of plush contains a lot of still air and thus provides excellent insulation against cold temperatures, while plush made from natural materials also has very good breathability. It is no coincidence that our knitted plush made from 100% organic cotton (ET_TKW10_0) is often compared to lambswool.

For the same reason, plush is also frequently used to make cardigans and winter accessories such as scarves and hats. Increasingly, it is also used to make loungewear such as pyjamas, dressing gowns, and comfortable trousers. The comfort that plush fabrics offer makes them perfect for relaxing moments at home, for quiet evenings and lazy weekends.

In all these applications, the unparalleled softness, the luxurious and fluffy structure are the greatest assets of plush fabrics. It is no coincidence that someone once compared touching plush to hugging a cloud.

Production

The production of plush begins with knitting a base fabric that is subsequently cut or sheared to create a velvety surface. This "cutting the pile" can be done at different lengths and densities, depending on the intended use of the fabric. The fabric is then brushed or steamed to enhance the softness and volume. This results in the luxurious, fluffy texture for which plush fabrics are known.

Plush offers several advantages:

• Softness: The closely packed fibres provide an exceptionally soft and pleasant texture.
• Insulation: The structure of the fabric helps to retain warmth, making it suitable for warm clothing and accessories.
• Flexibility: Knitted plush fabrics as you can find them in our collection are flexible and highly breathable, offering high comfort to the wearer. They are also durable and can withstand wear and tear, making them ideal for heavy use, such as in stuffed toys and upholstery.

Another knitted fabric, that also shows some of these properties is velours.

Plush fabrics are durable, easy to maintain, and they retain their shape and texture well, even after repeated washing or use. This makes them ideal for everyday use, whether it is a stuffed animal cherished by a child or a luxury blanket that provides warmth for years on cold winter evenings.

Originally, plush fabrics were woven. The history of plush fabrics is believed to date back to ancient China, where silk weaving first began to flourish. Here, the creation of silk textiles with a dense pile, known as "piled silk" or "cut velvet" began. These luxurious fabrics were prised for their softness and were used for clothing, decoration, and royal garments. Later, the production of these fabrics spread to other parts of the world, such as Europe, where they were valued by royalty and the upper classes.

However, we do not have silk plush in our collection and the plush fabrics on this page are knitted. In our collection we offer a 100% organic cotton plush that is used for toys and also for "soft furniture'' (cushions, plush blankets). The plush with wool pile on an organic cotton ground has a high isolation value. An exclusive option is the plush made of Icelandic wool. This wool  is known for its excellent breathability and good resistance to the cold. If this is faux fur or plush is, admittedly, open for debate!