Lelievre | Bestia

Bestia is the velvet in Lelièvre's Empreintes collection, a viscose and cotton pile woven with a repeat that gives the surface a subtle, sculpted texture rather than a flat, single-height pile. It has real depth of colour, the way a good velvet should, and the woven repeat means the light catches it slightly differently as you move around a piece, which lifts what would otherwise be a plain velvet into something with more presence.

Composition is viscose 78 per cent and cotton 22 per cent, at a width of 140 centimetres, with a 31 by 30 centimetre repeat. It is tested to 100,000 Martindale rubs, so it is robust enough for heavy domestic upholstery, and rated to EN1021 parts 1 and 2. There are six colourways: Craie, a chalky off-white; Naturel; Mordore, a warm bronze; Kaki; Auburn, a rich red-brown; and Bleu Acier, a cool steel blue. Craie and Naturel keep a scheme quiet, while Mordore and Auburn bring real warmth to a room.

This is the piece we build a scheme around: a sofa or a pair of statement armchairs, full-length curtains in a principal room, or wall upholstery behind a bed where the velvet's depth of colour does the work. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light, as velvet changes considerably between daylight and evening lamplight. We would keep the rest of the room relatively plain so the velvet is not competing with pattern elsewhere.

Velvet needs careful handling in the making: always cut with the pile running the same direction on every panel, and brief the upholsterer or curtain maker on the 31 by 30 centimetre repeat before cutting. Do not iron this cloth; a light steam from a distance is the only safe way to settle the pile once it is made up.

• Composition: Viscose 78%, Cotton 22%
• Width: 140 cm (55 in)
• Pattern repeat: 31 cm vertical, 30 cm horizontal
• Suitable for: Upholstery, curtains, wall upholstery, cushions
• Care: Do not wash, bleach or iron; keep away from any water, as slight shrinkage can occur. Dry clean using perchlorethylene.
• Collection: Empreintes, Lelièvre Paris
• Colourways: 6 (Craie, Naturel, Mordore, Kaki, Auburn, Bleu Acier)