Tempting & Comfy Lawn Fabric: Introductory Class 101
By Anushka Batra
Lawn cloth — or, as most people know it, “handkerchief linen” — is a plain-weave textile, chiefly of cotton, which resembles linen. It is designed using fine, high-thread-count yarns, which results in a silky feel.
If you are wondering what’s unique about lawn cloth, then remember it’s a finely woven cotton fabric but still different from traditional cotton clothing. It resists wrinkles; it is lightweight, crisp and known for its semi-transparency. Hence, it’s a perfect fabric to use in summer clothing or for layering in other seasons.
History & background of lawn cloth
The term “lawn” is inspired by ‘Laon’, a city in France which produced linen lawn. Initially, France exported this fabric to India. However, later, British-occupied India took over the production process and started using cotton yarn to create salwar-kameez or churidar-kameez in the material.
During partition, most of the lawn production ended up in Pakistan. At a time like that, textile giants and fashion designers stated that the status of lawn in Pakistan is equivalent to the rank of silk in India.
Lawn suits were incorporated into mainstream ethnic Indian fashion only in the mid-2000s, and since then its popularity has been steadily increasing.
Variety and uses of the lawn fabric
This fabric is traditionally used in making handkerchiefs, dresses, blouses, aprons, nightwear, collar cuffs and shirting. However, the latest trend of wearing lawn suits in different designs, colours and prints has become ideal for a bright summer day.
The most popular kind of lawn kurtas have full sleeves and embellished necklines. Hence, they can easily be worn on informal or semi-formal occasions.
Lawn suits with laced necklines and edges and in neon colours were a rage in the spring-summer collections of the mid-2010s. The Chinese collar was also brought back into fashion with these suits.
Outfits made of this fabric get their inspiration from Pakistan’s culture and heritage, but the motifs, patterns and designs are more focused on digital printing instead of embroidery.
Bottom wear to pair with lawn kurtas
People have been pairing lawn kurtas with salwars or patialas since time immemorial. However, what made news are the cotton lawn cigarette pants with lace embellishments on the cuff. If you don’t want to opt for cigarette pants, then churidars and leggings are also the right choices.
Lawn suits often come with dupattas featuring similar colours and patterns. If the kurta is heavily embellished, then the dupatta is kept minimal and straightforward.
To accentuate your look further, you can wear some dangling earrings and pair the outfit with stilettos or platform heels.
Maintenance and care of cotton lawn
- No particular form of maintenance and care is needed for this fabric.
- It can easily be washed in cold water using the delicate cycle of the washing machine and a detergent formulated for delicate clothing.
- For drying, spread out a heavy bath towel and place the lawn fabric on top of it. Roll the towel to remove excess moisture from the garment before you hang it on a wooden or plastic hanger.
- Make sure not to put the clothing directly under the sun, as the colours might fade.
- The fabric doesn’t require any dry cleaning. Hence, regular ironing of the garment is enough to get all the wrinkles out.
Facts and trivia about lawn
Lawn suits have a global influence, especially since designers started incorporating them in their collections and featuring them on international runways.
The fabric serves a large market of consumers in India too, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Currently, lawn suits are also known for having the busiest prints in Indian ethnic wear.
Lawn can be classified as white (bleached), dyed or printed. Heavy embroidery such as zari work or stonework is not meant for this fabric. Instead, digital printing and lace embellishments are preferable for any extravagant work.
One of the latest styles in this genre is wearing lawn suits with an Anarkali cut. For a bold yet elegant look, make sure to balance out the colours and prints in your outfit.
As the days get longer and hotter, buying lots of new summer apparel is a must! Every outfit in summer seems to feature lightweight fabrics like cotton, rayon, lawn and more. Hence, the real question is: which material is right for your garments?
The information mentioned above can help you make up your mind about the perfect textile for your clothing. You can also find Pakistani lawn suits in a plethora of designs and varieties on YourLibaas at affordable prices.
About Anushka Batra
Anushka Batra is a recent graduate of Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. She completed her undergraduate education in B.A (Hons) Journalism. She is currently working at ‘Newzera’, a platform committed to inform, engage, entertain and inspire with quality content.
With experience in writing for radio stations like 92.7 BIG FM and top portals, Anushka has helped companies address prospects and customers for a new generation of marketing.
Anushka is devoted to helping companies tell their unique stories — not just selling their products, but engaging their audience by delivering content that solves problems.
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