Velvets were an outstanding testimonial to social rank and status among the ruling classes of the fifteenth century. They were much sought after for their ability to confer a sense of authority and wealth on those who wore or used them. The prestige of velvets also put them at the centre of artistic innovation. Their manufacture became the main field of technical innovation and artistic creativity. Within a short time, velvet weaving rose to become the leading art form of silk weaving in Europe, and predominated over all other kinds of figured silks. The prominent position occupied by velvet in fifteenth-century silk weaving formed the focal point of an international colloquium at the Abegg-Stiftung in 2015. The proceedings published here explore a wide array of themes, ranging from developments in style through innovations in technique to the various economic requirements and implications of velvet production.