Mulberry Home | Botanica Velvet

Botanica Velvet is a printed floral velvet from the Modern Country group, leaves and blooms set onto an almost even cotton and viscose pile so the pattern has real depth without losing the softness a good velvet needs. It reads as more contemporary than the house's archive florals, with a cleaner, more graphic drawing, which is why it sits so easily in a Modern Country scheme rather than a strictly traditional one, and why we reach for it when a client wants pattern without heaviness.

The composition is 49 per cent cotton, 46 per cent viscose and 5 per cent polyester, 137 centimetres wide, with a 58 centimetre vertical repeat and a 68.5 centimetre horizontal one. Tested to 50,000 rubs on the Martindale scale, it is rated for upholstery as well as curtains. There is one colourway, Red/Plum, a rich, warm combination that reads as sophisticated rather than folksy, and which works particularly well against pale walls and plain linen.

We would use it on a pair of curtains in a sitting room, a headboard, or a single upholstered chair paired with plain linen elsewhere. It is substantial enough for a well-used sofa if you want one generous piece of pattern in the room, and it wears well given its high rub count. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light.

A making-up note: velvet must be cut with the pile running one way throughout a piece, so tell your maker before you order. With a 58 centimetre repeat, allow one extra repeat per drop for curtains, or a little extra yardage for upholstery. Dry clean only, and press only from the reverse over a soft cloth.

• Composition: 49% cotton, 46% viscose, 5% polyester
• Width: 137 cm (54 in)
• Pattern repeat: 58 cm vertical, 68.5 cm horizontal
• Abrasion resistance: 50,000 rubs (Martindale)
• Suitable for: Curtains, loose upholstery, fixed upholstery
• Care: Dry clean only; do not wash, bleach or iron
• Collection: Modern Country Velvets, Mulberry Home
• Colourways: 1 (Red/Plum)