Muslin Fabric : Everything You Should Know Before You Consider It for Your Next Collection in 2026

What is Muslin Fabric?

India has made a huge contribution in fashion be it hand blog printing or a variety of sustainable fabrics. On of the finest contribution in fabric by India is - Muslin fabric. This is a finely and loosely woven cotton fabric dating all the way back to ancient India. Made with a plain weave technique, muslin is simply produced with a single weft thread alternating over and under a single warp thread.

The simple method produces one of the softest and most breathable fabrics on the earth.

An early form of Muslin called Jamdani which is usually dyed bright and brilliant colors and used to make clothing. Traditionally Muslin was woven using handlooms specifically designed to create this delicate yet durable fabric. India has been the originator and biggest producer of Muslin fabric but Arab and Chinese traders are also taken the skills back to their home continents because of the popularity of Muslin Fabric. By 17th century, muslin was introduced to Europe and became a popular fabric there as well; because it was cheaper than linen or silk and much easier to care for.

What is the Properties of Muslin Fabric?

Due to its unique properties muslin fabric has been the most sought after fabric for centuries. Here are the top most of muslin:

• Breathable : Muslin is very lightweight and loosely woven fabric type that allows for airflow, which is one of the prime reasons why kidswear clothing manufacturers recommend muslin for swaddle / blankets and dresses for newborn and babies.

• Durability : Despite being known for its softness, muslin is also an incredibly durable fabric. It can withstand pulling and twisting (common occurrences with little ones) without tearing or fraying! Now a days, Muslin is also made out of bamboo fibers and that is additional level of durable. Contact us for FREE swatch. • Comfort : Muslin is known for its softness which simply adds to its overall comfort level. Further it can be made soft during manufacturing process. • Maintenance. When it comes to maintaining and cleaning muslin fabric, the process is very easy (another huge bonus for parents).

Types of Muslin Fabric

Alike any other fabric, Muslin too comes in several variety, quality and thread types. Giving some four major type of Muslin usually found :

• Muslin Gauze : This form of muslin is ultra-lightweight. Typically this muslin fabric is used for newborn and kids dresses, rompers, bibs etc. • Swiss Muslin : Sheer and lightweight, this type of muslin has some patterns or dots on it. Typically, you’ll find this muslin fabric used for warm clothes such as romper, swaddle etc. • Mull Muslin : This muslin is plain and lightweight, usually made from pure cotton or a blend of cotton and silk. Mull muslin fabric is typically used for dress underlings in luxury kidswear or womenswear. Because of silk content, this is little costlier than other type of Muslin. It is known for being exceptionally soft and silky touch. Mull is commonly used in couture fashion to add structure and support to garments. Designers also use mull to make prototypes of items. Mull muslin was very popular in the 18th century because of the Greco-roman style dresses woman wore and was imported from India. In India we call it mulmul fabric. This is so famous that anything soft is called mulmul. • Sheeting Muslin : This is the thickest and rough (harsh) type of muslin. This type of Muslin is widely used for homeware .

Muslin Vs. Cotton

Quite often people wonder, “what is cotton muslin?” and “what is the difference between muslin and cotton fabric?” The answer is very straight! When it comes to the difference between the two, you need to remember that cotton is a type of fiber and muslin is a type of fabric which is made out of cotton fiber (yarn). Not all muslins are made of 100% cotton fabrics since muslin refers to the combination of fiber type, thread size, and weave.

There are several type of fabrics where cotton fiber is used. People usually call all these fabric as cotton such as - poplin, voile, cambric, muslin and so on. These are referred as cotton because the main content (80% of yarn) is cotton.

What All Kinds of Garments Can be Made Using Muslin Fabric?

There are various type of Muslin and each one are used for making specific kind of garments. Majorly as a custom clothing manufacturer, we use Muslin for manufacturing of newborn and small babies clothing such as : Swaddle blanket, romper, bibs / burp clothes, dresses, shirt, pant, sleeping bag to name a few.

Washing and Care for Garments Made Out of Muslin Fabric

What makes muslin such a great choice for parents is the fact that muslin fabric is easy to care for. For starters, muslin is machine washable! Simply throw the muslin in with everything else on a cold cycle.

To preserve the softness of muslin, we suggest using tumble dry low or even hang drying. Thankfully, muslin is known for drying quickly, even when hung indoors!

As with anything that your little one comes in contact with, you’ll want to keep their sensitive skin in mind. Consider washing any muslin in a chemical-free detergent to limit the risk of reaction.

Now that you have your muslin basics covered, it’s time to see for yourself why muslin fabric is a must-have for parents!

Frequently Asked Questions : Muslin Fabric

Being one of the leading kids clothing manufacturer, Muslin is highly used fabric in our factory. Quite often, our buyers do not choose fabric by themselves and in that case we recommend Muslin considering their design. But it also causes a lot of questions. We're sharing some of the most commonly asked questions by our buyers and believe this may be useful for you as well if you're planning to use Muslin Fabric for your next collection :

Is muslin fabric suitable for kids in summer?

Absolutely! Muslin is an excellent fabric for summer because it is breathable, moisture-wicking, and lightweight.

Does muslin shrink when washed?

It can shrink. Muslin does have the propensity to shrink when washed, especially when dried in the dryer. Muslin is best when line dried. But as an experienced clothing manufacturer, we make clothing which is pre-shrunk checked and you or your customer does not feel disappointed after wash.

Is muslin fabric durable?

Yes! Muslin fabric is a highly durable fabric. Its durability is what makes it a great option for clothing.

Is Muslin good for X type of style?

We can confirm only after seeing the design of your style. Not all kind of style is made in Muslin Fabric. Hence the best is that, you share your design details and let our expert to study your design and recommend the best suitable fabric for your design. You can contact us here!

Are muslin and Mulmul the same?

Mulmul is a type of muslin that is produced in India. It is a sheer, delicate, soft, 100% cotton muslin fabric. This is also known as Mul Muslin. The above we have written about.

Can one breathe through muslin?

Absolutely! Muslin is a highly breathable fabric. Many people have used muslin to make masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have made masks kids for many of our clients.

What is the difference between bleached and unbleached muslin?

The difference is in color. Bleached muslin is muslin that white and unbleached muslin is usually off-white (natural state).

Muslin is a sustainable fabric?

Yes! Muslin is 100% sustainable fabric and you must consider this if you're planning to build a sustainable clothing line. Being a sustainable clothing manufacturer we hugely recommend Muslin as a fabric wherever possible.

To be called a sustainable fabric, a fabric must be of agricultural, natural, or handmade nature and from a specific geographical location. Muslin fabric meets the criterion so certainly Muslin is a sustainable fabric!

Organic Muslin is also available as an option which receives the GOTS or Global Standard Organic Textile Certification. To earn the GOTS muslin, manufacturers must pass a series of audits that include everything from the initial processing stages to the end stages of manufacturing and distributing.

In case you have more question, please do let us know so that our fabric expert can guide you with best of comprehensive knowledge of fabric, yarn and usage as per your design. Fill the contact us form and let our team help you today!

Thank you!!