Velvet's high cost is attributed to its manufacturing process. Unlike other materials, such as linen, velvet is not flat-woven and requires several steps to produce. It is often woven as a double cloth before being cut into two pile textiles. While velvet can be produced from a variety of textiles, silk velvet fabric is the most expensive. Silk, which is associated with decadence and luxury, is a high-end fabric that was traditionally reserved for royalty, nobles, and the affluent. To make velvet more cost-effective and accessible, manufacturers, therefore, blended it with other materials such as rayon and viscose.