What does crepon mean?
Crepon is a light, often semi-sheer fabric distinguished by a crinkled or puckered surface, produced either through the weave itself or through finishing treatments applied after weaving. It may be made from silk, wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers, and its textured hand gives garments made from it — dresses, blouses, scarves — a soft, rippling drape that resists ordinary wrinkling. The word entered English from French, sharing ancestry with 'crepe,' and remains chiefly a term of the fashion and textile trades rather than casual conversation. A related sense refers to crepe-like paper used in crafts, though this use is rarer. Because its texture is intentional, crepon exemplifies how deliberate irregularity can be prized as a mark of quality in cloth.
nounCrepon is a lightweight fabric, typically of silk, wool, or cotton, woven or treated so that it has a crinkled or puckered surface. The term can also refer to a crepe-like paper used in crafts and decoration.
- A light fabric of silk, wool, or cotton having a crinkled or puckered surface.
- A crepe-like paper used in crafts and decorative work.
"The bridal gown was fashioned from ivory silk crepon that rippled softly with every step."
"She chose a flowing wool crepon for the autumn coat because its crinkle hid every wrinkle of travel."
"The children decorated the hall with streamers of bright crepon paper."
The plural is rare and appears mostly in textile catalogues or inventory contexts.
"The mill stocked several wool crepons in varying weights."
Crepon's signature wrinkles aren't a flaw — they're engineered into the weave, making it one of fashion history's most deliberately 'imperfect' fabrics.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crepon
Crepon comes from French crépon, a diminutive-related form derived ultimately from 'crepe' (French crêpe), which itself traces back through Latin 'crispus' meaning curled or wrinkled. English adopted the word in the nineteenth century as European textile houses developed heavier, more deeply textured cousins of standard crepe. Its cognates include 'crepe' and 'crape,' all members of the same wrinkled-fabric family rooted in the Latin word for curly.
How crepon is actually used
Crepon is a specialist term encountered mainly in textile, fashion, and sewing contexts rather than everyday speech; it carries a refined, slightly technical connotation. Both singular and plural usage are uncommon outside trade writing.
Easily confused with crepon
Crepe is a broader term for any crinkled fabric, whereas crepon specifically denotes a crepe with a pronounced, often corded or pebbled surface.
A crayon is a stick of colored wax or chalk for drawing, entirely unrelated to the textile called crepon.