Lawn cloth or lawn is a fine plain weave textile, made with fine combed cotton.[1] [2] Terms also used include batiste and nainsook. Originally the name applied to plain weave linen, and linen lawn is also called "handkerchief linen".[3] [4] The term lawn is also used in the textile industry to refer to a type of starched crisp finish given to a cloth product. The finish can be applied to a variety of fine fabrics, prints or plain.
Lawn is a lightweight, sheer cloth, crisper than voile but not as crisp as organza.[5] Lawn is known for its semi-transparency, which can range from gauzy or sheer to an almost opaque effect, known as lining or utility lawn. The finish used on lawn ranges from soft to semi-crisp to crisp, but the fabric is never completely stiff. Lawn can be white, or may be dyed or printed.[6]
Lawn is designed using fine, high-thread-count yarns, which results in a silky, untextured feel. The fabric is made using either combed or carded yarns. When lawn is made using combed yarns, with a soft feel and slight luster, it is known as nainsook.
The term "lawn" derives from "Laon", a city in France, which produced linen lawn.[3] Cotton lawn rose in popularity due to its breathable characteristics in warmer climates[7] particularly during the period of British rule in India and Pakistan.
Lawn cloth commonly is used for infant wear, handkerchiefs, dresses, blouses, aprons and curtains.[8] Other uses are nightwear, underwear, lingerie, collar cuffs and shirting. It is also commonly used in vestments in Anglican churches, such as the surplice and episcopal rochet. Lawn is a very popular fabric in Pakistan, with new fabrics released from February each year.[9] In 2016, lawn cotton was worth $500 million to the Pakistani textile industry and employs more than 30,000 people.