Chenille — A Patterned Fabric Prized for Softness

Based in Southern California, David Raminfard is a longtime entrepreneur who guides New Point Fabrics, Inc., and Kaslen Textiles. With the latter company, David Raminfard offers a full range of textiles for drapery and upholstery uses, including chenille. This ridged fabric is created through the use of silken thread, affixed in tight loops known as piles, to a wool or cotton core material. The trademark thick, fuzzy softness of the yarn is reflected in the term “chenille,” which means caterpillar in French.

Typically, 100 percent cotton chenille is used for baby items such as soft blankets, as well as towels for family use. It may also be incorporated in bathrobes and in area rugs, and often has iridescent qualities. These derive both from the three-dimensional pattern and the actual materials used. In addition to cotton, piles may be made of acrylic, olefin, and rayon fibers. With higher-end chenille upholstery, a repeating background design may be combined with the piles to create a vividly contrasting pattern in floral or heraldic motifs.

Whatever the materials involved, one critical element in the use of chenille is care. It’s important not to throw such items in with the normal laundry, but have them dry-cleaned instead. If hand-drying is needed, chenille should not be hung, as stretching may occur, but lain flat.