What Is Poplin?

If you know your cottons, then you may know what poplin is and if you have dress shirts in your wardrobe then you are likely to have at least one made with the material. Poplin is a durable, medium to heavy weight fabric that is made from either cotton or a cotton and polyester blend. But what makes it special?

History of Poplin

Poplin has changed a little through its history. The word itself is a French one that appeared in the 15^th century and referred to a type of fabric made in Avignon during the time the pope was living there – papelino became poplin over time.

When it was first made, poplin was an actual fabric that used a silk warp and a wool weft to create its distinctive weave. The weave has ribs known as crosswise ribs that create a corded surface and made for a strong, if not fancy, material with noticeable ridges.

Modern poplin is actually a weave rather than a material in its own right. It is made with either cotton or a blend of cotton and polyester and one of the most common uses for the fabric is in men’s dress shirts.

Benefits of Poplin

So why would you choose a poplin shirt over other weaves of cotton? For starters, poplin tends to be lighter than a lot of other weaves which means if you want to wear the shirt in warmer weather without a jacket, then it is ideal. Poplin does crease a little easier than the heavy weaves such as twill because it is a little lighter.

Another benefit of poplin is that it can be naturally quite stain resistant as well as repelling water. While it isn’t what you would call waterproof, it can stop splashes of water soaking into the material so a light rain shower doesn’t need to result in a drenched shirt.

Poplin With Polyester

As with many materials, the addition of manmade fabrics to the blend has created new, more resilient styles. Polyester is the most common additive to the cotton in poplin and the result is a strong material that still has the crosswise ribs and corded surface of traditional poplin.

It is more resistant to wrinkles than a pure cotton material and had a good drape. Another advantage is that it is easy to care for and simply needs washing in the washing machine on a low setting. Sometimes these shirts don’t even need much ironing – always a benefit!

Other Uses of Poplin

As well as dress shirts, poplin is now used in pants, often in a khaki style with the polyester blend material proving durable for this kind of garment. The higher quality fabrics are also used in women’s shirts, pants and skirts as the drape of it makes for a great look and feel. Poplin also comes in sturdier versions that can be used on upholstery, where it’s natural stain and water resistance helps to keep furniture looking great and free of stains.