Duvetyne Explained

Duvetyne, or duvetyn,^{[1] [2]} (also known as Molton and Rokel^{[3] [4]}) is a twill fabric with a velvet-like nap on one side. Duvetyne has a matte finish and its high opacity makes it ideal for blocking light.

It may be woven from cotton, wool, or - in rare cases, mainly in the early 20th century - silk. If made of cotton, it is usually called suede cloth. If wool or wool-blend, it is fulled, napped, and sheared. This entirely hides the weave,^[5] making it a blind-faced cloth.

Although it is most commonly used in the motion picture industry, early sources list duvetyne as a common fabric for dresses, suits, and coats.^{[6] [7] [8] [9]} By the 1930s, however, it was widely noted for its use in constructing theatrical cycloramas^{[10] [11]} and theater curtains.

In modern times, fire-retardant black duvetyne is commonly used for curtains, for scenery, and to control light spill. Many commercial lighting flags are made from duvetyne.^{[12] [13]} When used in film applications, especially in the eastern United States, duvetyne is also known as "commando cloth".^{[14] [15] [16]}

In the first season of the original Star Trek television series, the exterior shots of "space" were created by gluing glitter onto black duvetyne.^[17]

See also

• Broadcloth
• Monk's cloth
• Melton (cloth)
• Velour

Notes and References

1. Book: Ionazzi. Daniel A.. The stagecraft handbook. 1996. Betterway Books. Cincinnati, Ohio. 9781558704046. 96. 1st. registration.
2. Book: Shaeffer. Clair. Claire Shaeffer's fabric sewing guide. 2011. F+W Media. Cincinnati. 9781440221125. 2nd.
3. Web site: Molton, Rokel, Duvetyne.
4. Web site: Molton/Duvetyne/Rokel | Specialtyaudio . 2013-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141010032131/http://www.specialtyaudiovisual.com/Molton . 2014-10-10 . dead .
5. Web site: Vintage Fashion Guild : Coarser Or Thick Heavy Fabrics . vintagefashionguild.org.
6. Book: Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog. 1902. 9.
7. Book: Good Housekeeping. 67. 1918.
8. Book: Scribner's. January 1921. 69. 14.
9. Book: America's Jewish Journal. 57. 418.
10. Book: Curtains and Scenery for Miniature Stage. Popular Science. March 1934.
11. Book: Play producing for school and little theatre stages. 1935. Koch, Frederick Henry. 63.
12. Book: Motion Picture and Video Lighting. Brown, Blain. 151. Focal Press. 1996. 0-240-80249-7. registration.
13. Book: Basic lighting worktext for film and video. Ferncase, Richard K.. 43. 1992. Focal Press . 9780240800851.
14. Book: Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait. Grecco, Michael. 2006. Watson-Guptill Publications, Incorporated . 9780817442279.
15. Book: Art of the event: complete guide to designing and decorating special events. 147. Monroe, James . Kates, Robert. 0-471-42686-5. 2005. Wiley .
16. Book: The Stagecraft Handbook. Ionazzi, Daniel. 96. registration. 1996. F+W Media . 1-55870-404-3.
17. Book: Cinefantastique. Clarke, Frederick S.. 23. 1992.