As with silk and satin fetishists, velvet fetishists are typically attracted to the smooth, silky texture of the fabric and the tactile sensation of it against their skin. Many velvet fetishists believe these qualities are enhanced when the fabric is wet.
For many people, a velvet fetish begins in childhood and grows during adolescence and adulthood. Freud believed that velvet was not too dissimilar to pubic hair. This sexual connotation may help explain the roots of a velvet fetish.