Poplin

| What is poplin?

Poplin, also known as tabbinet, is a plain-weave cotton fabric with very fine horizontal “ribs,” or yarns, that results in a strong, crisp fabric with a silky, lustrous surface. Poplin is commonly used in men’s and women’s shirts, women’s dresses, and items like sportswear and raincoats.

The word “poplin” originates from the French term “papelino,” and is a variation of the word “papelaine,” an obsolete fabric with a similar weave.

When should I wear poplin?

Since poplin is such a commonplace, staple fabric, you can find poplin in a variety of clothing items that you can wear throughout the year. Both women’s and men’s shirts are made with poplin, as well as women’s dresses and skirts, and men’s pants and jackets. It’s a versatile fabric with a subtle sheen that adds beauty as well as drape to any piece of clothing.

Poplin vs Twill

Though poplin is sometimes conflated with twill, poplin and twill are not woven in the same way. While twill is also a plain-weave fabric, poplin is woven with a fine warp yarn and a thicker weft yarn. While both are strong materials, poplin is often softer than twill. Poplin is also more breathable.

| Maintaining poplin

Poplin is a relatively low maintenance fabric. Poplin clothing typically does not need to be dry-cleaned. Wash poplin clothing according to the care instructions.