Two-Ply
Fiber — one of 29 in the glossary
Fabric or trim made from thread of two yarns twisted together rather than one. Twisting doubles the effective strength and rounds out the thread, giving a smoother, denser, more durable cloth that wrinkles less and resists pulling apart at stress points. In woven shirts it is the usual marker of a better garment; in knits it most often describes the collar, where two-ply is the difference between a collar that stays flat and one that curls after a season. It costs more per yard, so it appears on premium styles rather than promotional ones.
Two yarns twisted into one
A single-ply yarn is one strand. A two-ply yarn is two strands twisted together before weaving or knitting.
Twisting does more than double the thickness. It balances the yarn's own twist, so the thread is rounder, smoother and far less prone to skewing — a single-ply woven shirt can twist out of square after washing in a way a two-ply one does not.
It also removes weak points. A thin spot in one strand is backed by the other, so the yarn breaks less readily.
In shirting
Two-ply is the usual marker of a better woven shirt, and spec sheets advertise it — often as a count such as 2x80s, meaning two-ply eighty-count yarn.
The cloth is smoother, denser and more durable, wrinkles less, and holds a press better.
It costs more per yard, which is why it appears on premium styles and not on promotional ones.
In knits, it usually means the collar
On a polo, "two-ply collar" is the single most useful thing on the spec sheet. A two-ply collar is two layers of fabric rather than one, and it is the difference between a collar that lies flat after a season and one that curls at the points.
This is a different use of the term from two-ply yarn, and both appear in blanks catalogues. Read which one the sheet means.
If a polo is going to be worn regularly, a two-ply or otherwise interlined collar is worth paying for; it is the part of the garment customers notice failing.
Common questions
- What does two-ply mean?
- Two strands twisted together to make one yarn, rather than a single strand. The result is rounder, smoother, stronger and less prone to skewing.
- Is two-ply cotton better?
- For woven shirting, generally yes — smoother, more durable, less prone to twisting out of square, and it holds a press better. It also costs more.
- What is a two-ply collar?
- A collar made from two layers of fabric rather than one. It is what keeps a polo collar lying flat instead of curling at the points after a season of washing.
See also
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