Chenille: Our Essential Guide

During the 18th century, chenille yarn was made by crafting a leno or cross-woven fabric and then cutting it into fluffy, textured strips. These soft yarns were favoured for women's fashion and the decorative arts, where they were often stitched onto embroidered designs.

Initially made by hand, the development of water-powered machines in the 19th century allowed chenille to be mass-produced, making it accessible to the growing middle class. Challenges including the loss of weft tufts over time or during washing persisted until the 20th century when low-melt nylon was introduced to bond the core yarns together.

Today, short pile fibres of 2-3 mm in length are placed between two base yarns and twisted to form loops, creating chenille's signature texture and look. These loops are then trimmed at sharp angles and woven, resulting in the fabric's distinct shimmer.

Chenille yarns are generally incorporated into the weft to create a pile fabric that is softer and has a more varied texture than velvet. This fabric can be crafted from natural fibres such as silk, viscose, linen, or cotton, or from synthetic materials to achieve durable, high-performance fabrics. Each fibre blend gives chenille a unique look and tactile quality.

While velvet can complement both modern and classic styles, chenille offers a more versatile fabric choice with a relaxed, casual look.

The key difference is that velvet must be produced on a velvet loom and comes in two main types: plain velvet and jacquard velvet. Chenille, however, is a versatile yarn that can be creatively blended with other yarns, providing greater flexibility for interior design applications. For instance, in the Coverlet fabric, chenille is subtly embedded within the weave to add surface texture, while in the Cuddly fabric, it stands out prominently, enhancing the richness of the pile and colour.

Explore some of our favourite chenille textiles:

Footloose is a chenille featuring a mélange, two-tone effect and velvety handle in a vast palette including rich shades of coffee, cayenne, sage, and honey, Footloose will seamlessly integrate into any interior scheme. Composed of 50% polyester and 50% acrylic, this fabric offers FibreGuard stain-resistant and upholsters effortlessly on curved pieces enhancing contemporary design.

Strolling in Venice in search of secret locations, the canals seem to whisper their secrets, water shimmering in the evening light. Sergeti is a luxurious chenille texture, lifted by a metallic covered yarn.

Slalom is a striking jacquard upholstery. A tactile blend of alternating chenille and boucle yarns results in a soft fabric with wide stripes, suggestive of the tracks made during a ski race.

Devina is a yarn-dyed chenille jacquard from our Eco range. With a blend of polyester, recycled polyester, and recycled polypropylene, Devina presents a conscious choice for modern interiors. Enhanced with FibreGuard’s stain-resistance properties, this fabric is designed to endure daily wear in residential and commercial interiors.

A luxurious texture constructed in Italy on a cotton backing, Cabourg features a viscose-linen warp and a slubbed chenille weft. An irregular corduroy rib with a natural look and striking relief is present on the surface of this tactile upholstery.

Plush lives up to its name with a rich texture and dappled two-tone effect. A yarn-dyed chenille jacquard boasting FibreGuard technology for long-lasting durability and easy maintenance. Included in our Eco range, Plush is composed of 53% recycled polyester and 47% acrylic, ensuring safe and sustainable practices.

Matica is a dynamic chenille upholstery featuring multi-coloured bouclé yarns throughout its constructio. Equipped with FibreGuard’s stain-free and anti-microbial properties, Matica resists mildew and odours, making it both practical and hygienic. Composed of 18% recycled polyester and 82% polyester, Matica is machine washable at 30 degrees.

Two colours in the warp and two in the weft create Palmera, Fischbacher 1819's lively palm design, to which the chenille yarn lends an especially soft feel. Palmera is available in six contemporary colours.

Innovation is a dynamic jacquard featuring a patinaed pattern, delivering tonal and textural shifts across the surface. Designed with FibreGuard’s inherent stain resistant properties, this multi-purpose chenille boasts a rich handle and exceptional movement in a sustainable composition of 75% recycled polyester and 25% polyester.