Designtex’s Alto is a performance velvet in 25 colorways that cleans up with diluted bleach. Two-thirds of its polyester is postconsumer recycled.

That pairing is rarer than it should be. Most velvet asks for gentle handling. Alto takes a disinfectant wipe and gets on with its day.

The palette does the talking. Navy, Lagoon and Sea run deep and cool. Spice, Oxblood and Berry bring the heat. Butter and Peony lean toward candy. Bone, Gull and Oatmeal keep the peace when a scheme needs restraint.

It gets better in pairs. Pink piping on an olive bolster. A bright blue welt around a pale yellow pouf. Two colors, one fabric, the same plush hand at every seam.

That makes this upholstery velvet an easy call for lounge chairs, booths and poufs that get sat on, leaned on and spilled on. Hotel bars. Clinic waiting rooms. Amenity lounges that fill up by noon. It picks up where Amble, Fenn Crypton® and Marra left off in Spec It and Forget It: durability first, feel never sacrificed.

Velvet used to need a velvet rope. Not anymore.

_{Images Courtesy of Designtex}