Initially very edgy, lets visitor examine tendentious material (6)
I believe the answer is:
velvet
'material' is the definition.
(velvet is a kind of material)
'initially very edgy lets visitor examine tendentious' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letters of 'very edgy lets visitor examine tendentious' is 'VELVET'.
(Other definitions for velvet that I've seen before include "Smooth, soft fabric" , "Plush-like fabric" , "A glove made of this might cover an iron hand" , "Fabric with short, soft pile" , "Silky, densely-piled fabric" .)