Poplin - The ubiquitous shirting fabric

Poplin

As one of the most common shirt weaves, poplin has a long and interesting history. Originally called papelain, the name originates from 15th century Avignon, France. Back then the city had a papal residence and gave the fabric its name - papal linen. Since then, poplin has also referred to various silk and wool blends and is available for a multitude of purposes.

In the world of mens fashion, poplin almost exclusively refers to a very basic over/under cotton weave that is used for shirts and jackets. Poplin gets its characteristics using fine yarns and packing them tightly, usually with 2-3 times as many threads per inch in the warp as in the weft. Especially with higher thread counts, poplin gets a silky, light and smooth feel and becomes superbly crisp when ironed.

Poplin comes in solids, stripes and checks. No wardrobe is complete without a couple of white poplin shirts to match your business attire. Our favorite is named Caucel, white and has a great easy-care treatment.