Velvet is one of our eldest fabrics, having been manufactured for nearly 4,000 years. Traditionally, made from silk, it is common for velvet to now be made of cotton or a synthetic blend fabric such as polyester, nylon, acetate, or viscose. Velvet was once worn only by royalty, namely Egyptian royalty, and even today is more expensive and more difficult to manufacture than most other fabrics. Corduroy, velour, and velveteen have all been created to be very similar to velvet but are easier to manufacture resulting in a much lower price for those wanting a velvet touch without the velvet price.