Voile vs. Interlock vs. Poly Poplin: Which Fabric Is Best for Pipe and Drape?

Voile vs. Interlock vs. Poly Poplin: Which Fabric Is Best for Pipe and Drape?

When creating pipe and drape for a wedding, event, stage, trade show, or venue, choosing the right fabric is just as important as choosing the right color.

Three popular choices are voile, interlock, and poly poplin, but they create very different looks. Voile is light and flowing, interlock offers more coverage and flexibility, while poly poplin provides a cleaner and more structured appearance.

Here’s how to decide which one is right for your project.

Voile: Best for Soft, Flowing Event Draping

Voile is one of the most popular fabrics for wedding and event draping because it is lightweight, soft, and easy to gather.

Its semi-sheer appearance allows light to pass through, creating an elegant and airy effect. When used with enough fullness, voile can create beautiful folds across large pipe-and-drape installations.

Voile is especially popular for:

  • Wedding backdrops
  • Ceremony draping
  • Ceiling draping
  • Pipe and drape
  • Stage décor
  • Venue transformations

Because voile is lightweight, it is also easier for event professionals to transport and install in large quantities.

Best for: Weddings and events where you want a soft, flowing and elegant appearance.

Interlock: Best for Coverage and Versatility

Interlock is a knit polyester fabric that provides considerably more coverage than sheer voile.

This makes it a good option when the purpose of the pipe and drape is not only decoration but also hiding what is behind it.

Interlock can be used for:

  • Event backdrops
  • Pipe and drape
  • Stage backgrounds
  • Trade shows
  • Photo areas
  • Room dividers
  • Venue walls

Its flexibility makes interlock useful for both decorative and practical installations.

If you have an unattractive wall, equipment, storage area, or another section of a venue that needs to be concealed, interlock may be a better choice than sheer voile.

Best for: Customers who need more coverage while still wanting a fabric that drapes well.

Poly Poplin: Best for a Clean, Professional Look

Poly poplin has a different appearance from both voile and interlock.

Rather than creating an extremely soft or sheer look, poly poplin provides a cleaner and more structured presentation.

It is a practical choice for:

  • Trade shows
  • Banquets
  • Corporate events
  • Stage draping
  • Vendor booths
  • Event partitions
  • Professional installations

Poly poplin is also useful when you want less transparency and a simple, polished background.

Best for: Professional events and installations where coverage and a crisp appearance are important.

Which Fabric Provides the Most Coverage?

If hiding the area behind your pipe and drape is important, don’t choose based on appearance alone.

Voile is the sheerest of these three fabrics and is generally chosen for its flowing decorative appearance.

Interlock provides significantly more coverage and is a strong choice for backdrops and room dividers.

Poly poplin also provides good coverage and offers a more structured appearance.

Remember that color, lighting, fabric fullness, and the amount of material used can also affect how much you can see through a finished installation.

Which Fabric Is Best for Weddings?

For most romantic wedding installations, voile is an excellent choice because of its soft and flowing appearance.

However, you don’t necessarily have to choose only one fabric.

Professional decorators can use interlock or poly poplin as a base layer for coverage and add voile in front for softness and dimension.

This combination can give you both coverage and an elegant wedding look.

How Much Fullness Should Pipe and Drape Have?

Fullness is what creates the gathered folds that make draping look professional.

For example, if you are covering a 10-foot-wide area, using exactly 10 feet of fabric would create a relatively flat appearance.

Using additional fabric allows you to gather the material and create fuller folds.

The amount you need depends on the look you want, the width of your fabric, the height of your installation, and the amount of gathering.

Don’t Forget Fabric Width

Fabric width can make a major difference on large installations.

Wider fabrics may reduce the number of individual panels or seams needed to cover a large area. This can save installation time and create a cleaner finished appearance.

Before ordering, consider:

  • Width of the area you need to cover
  • Height of your pipe-and-drape system
  • Width of the fabric
  • Desired fullness
  • Number of panels needed

Voile vs. Interlock vs. Poly Poplin: The Simple Answer

Choose voile if you want a soft, flowing and elegant look.

Choose interlock if you want better coverage with flexible draping.

Choose poly poplin if you want good coverage with a clean, structured and professional appearance.

There is no single best fabric for every project. The right choice depends on what you’re decorating and the finished look you want to achieve.

Need Help Choosing Your Fabric?

Not sure which fabric or how much material you need for your project?

New Star Fabric can help with yardage calculations, fabric recommendations, color coordination, wedding and event fabric guidance, and wholesale or bulk orders.

Call or text us at (310) 804-7077.

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