Piqué is a cotton knit with a small raised texture, a fine grid of tiny cells that you can feel under your fingers. It is the classic fabric of the polo shirt: heavier and more structured than the jersey of a T-shirt, with a surface that lets air move and hides creases. Here is what it is, where the name comes from, how it differs from jersey and what to look for when you buy a piqué polo.
What piqué is
The Real Academia Española defines piqué as a cotton fabric worked with different kinds of pattern, used for clothing and other things. The word comes from the French piqué, which the Spanish dictionary translates as "picado", pricked or stitched, a nod to the dotted, raised look of the surface.
In a polo shirt, piqué is knitted, not woven. The knit combines loops at two levels, so one face shows a pattern of small raised cells and hollows, often compared to a honeycomb, while the other face is flatter. That texture is the whole point: it gives the fabric body, it breathes and it does not cling to the skin.
Why the polo is made of piqué
The polo shirt as we know it is usually traced back to the French tennis player René Lacoste, who brought out his short-sleeve shirt in 1933. Lacoste still describes that original shirt as a cotton petit piqué. Players had been wearing long-sleeved woven shirts; a knitted piqué with short sleeves and a soft collar was cooler and moved with the body.
The same qualities explain why the piqué polo moved from the court to the marina and the city:
- It breathes. The open texture lets air through, which helps on warm days in the sun.
- It keeps its shape. A good piqué has more body than a T-shirt, so the collar and the shoulders hold their line.
- It hides creases. The raised surface makes small wrinkles less visible after a day in a bag or on a boat.
- It sits between casual and smart. A collar and placket make it tidier than a T-shirt, without the formality of a shirt.
Piqué or jersey: the difference
Jersey is the smooth, flat knit of most T-shirts. Piqué is the textured knit of most polos. Side by side:
| Piqué | Jersey |
|---|---|
| Raised, cellular texture | Smooth, flat surface |
| More body and structure | Softer and more fluid |
| Air moves through the texture | Closer to the skin |
| Hides creases well | Shows creases more |
| The usual fabric of a polo | The usual fabric of a T-shirt |
Neither is better in every case. For a polo, where the collar has to stand and the shirt should look tidy all day, piqué is the natural choice.
What to look for in a piqué polo
Fibre
Most piqué polos are cotton. A 100% cotton piqué feels natural and breathes well. Some piqués mix in polyester for faster drying. Check the composition on the product page and on the label.
Weight
Fabric weight is given in grams per square metre (g/m²). It tells you how much a square metre of the fabric weighs: the higher the number, the denser and more substantial the fabric. A heavier piqué tends to hold its shape and drape better; a lighter one is airier.
Pre-shrunk and combed cotton
Cotton can shrink after the first washes. A pre-shrunk fabric has been treated to limit that. Combed cotton has had its shorter fibres removed, which gives a smoother, softer yarn.
Collar, placket and finish
A ribbed knitted collar and cuffs keep their shape better than a collar cut from the body fabric. Side vents at the hem help it sit well whether you tuck it in or not. Small details, such as a taped placket or contrast buttons, are what set one polo apart from another.
Our two piqué polos
NewPortVela, from Vigo, has two piqué polos in the polos and T-shirts collection:
- Cinew: short-sleeve piqué in pre-shrunk combed cotton, 210 g/m². Ribbed collar and cuffs, a two-button placket lined with our navy inner tape carrying the new port wordmark and nautical signal flags, and side vents at the hem. In navy and meadow green.
- Redor: short-sleeve polo in 100% cotton piqué, built around contrast: knitted collar and cuffs in a contrasting colour, a contrasting placket lined with coloured tape, three contrasting buttons and five colour bands down the back of the collar. In white, navy and green.
Both come in sizes M to XXL, with the measurements in centimetres on each product page.
Piqué on the water
On a warm day with little wind, a cotton piqué polo is comfortable on deck: it breathes and it looks tidy when you step ashore. Cotton dries slowly, though, so on a cool or windy day it works best as part of a layered outfit, with a gilet or a softshell over the top. Our layering guide for sailing explains how to build that, and the Beaufort scale guide helps you read how much wind to expect.
Common questions
Is piqué the same as cotton?
No. Cotton is a fibre; piqué is a way of knitting or weaving it. Most piqué is cotton, but it can also be made with blends.
Is piqué good for hot weather?
Yes. The open, textured surface lets air through and does not stick to the skin, which is why it became the fabric of the tennis polo.
Why is it called piqué?
From the French piqué, meaning pricked or stitched, after the dotted, raised look of the fabric.
Does a piqué polo shrink?
Cotton can shrink a little after the first washes. Pre-shrunk fabrics, like the Cinew's, are treated to limit it. Always follow the care label.
What does 210 g/m² mean?
It is the weight of one square metre of the fabric. It gives you an idea of how dense and substantial the piqué is.
Sources: Real Academia Española, Diccionario de la lengua española, "piqué"; Lacoste, Original L.12.12 product description; NewPortVela product pages for the Cinew and Redor polos.