Textile & Fashion

Velvet was in fashion in 16-early 17th century Europe, and was used for the finest clothes, often with added gold braid or lace. It was invented in Venice, but by the mid-16th century was being made in China too. Most velvet in Japan was not European, and any that there was would have been inordinately expensive and probably only used for military collars or jinbaori. Velvet became the height of fashion.