Flocking
Flocking
A velvety texture created by applying short fiber particles to fabric using adhesive, creating raised, soft patterns.
What Is Flocking?
Flocking is a textile finishing technique where short fibre particles (typically nylon, rayon, or polyester, each less than 1mm long) are applied to a fabric surface using adhesive. The fibres are projected onto the glue-coated areas electrostatically, causing them to stand upright and create a dense, velvety pile. In lingerie, flocking is applied in specific patterns — florals, geometric shapes, polka dots — onto sheer mesh or tulle, producing raised, tactile motifs against a transparent background.
The effect of flocking on lingerie is striking: opaque, touchably soft patterns appear to float on otherwise sheer fabric. This creates a built-in reveal-and-conceal dynamic where the flocked motifs provide selective coverage while the bare mesh between them shows skin. The raised texture also catches light differently from the flat base, adding visual depth and dimension that flat printing cannot replicate. Against the skin, the flocked areas feel like soft suede.
When checking quality, run your thumb firmly across the flocked surface. Well-bonded flocking resists rubbing and leaves no fibres on your finger. If coloured fibres transfer to your skin, the adhesive bond is weak and the pattern will deteriorate quickly. The edges of each flocked motif should be crisp and well-defined rather than fuzzy or bleeding into the surrounding mesh.
Sinderella uses flocked mesh in bodysuits and bra sets where the velvety raised pattern becomes the main design element against sheer skin-showing panels.
How to Wear & Style
Flocked mesh bodysuits are conversation starters — the velvety raised patterns on sheer fabric look like wearable art. Wear a black flocked bodysuit under a blazer for a night out where only the neckline and cuffs hint at the pattern beneath. For intimate occasions, flocked pieces offer a middle ground between full sheer and full coverage that many find more alluring than either extreme. The texture also photographs well in close-up detail shots.
Lingerie Featuring Flocked Patterns
Velvety raised motifs on sheer mesh — tactile, visual, and undeniably bold.
Browse BodysuitsFrequently Asked Questions
What is flocking?
A velvety texture created by applying short fiber particles to fabric using adhesive, creating raised, soft patterns.
How is flocking different from velvet in lingerie?
Velvet is a woven fabric where the entire surface is covered in pile. Flocking applies fibres only to specific areas of an existing fabric using adhesive, creating raised patterns against a smooth or sheer background. This means flocked lingerie can have velvety motifs on transparent mesh, which woven velvet cannot achieve.
Does flocking wear off after washing?
Quality flocking uses heat-set adhesive that bonds permanently to the base fabric. Hand washing in cool water preserves the bond indefinitely. Machine washing and tumble drying can loosen the adhesive over time, causing bald patches where fibres detach. Always hand wash flocked pieces inside out.