Shirt Fabrics

Oxford Weave Shirt

With a history dating back to the 1800s, the oxford weave dress shirt is considered to be the most simple and straightforward, when compared to other weaves like the herringbone. The oxford dress shirt was historically made of 100% cotton, but nowadays, there are many fabrics which uses this pattern. There are numerous blends such as cotton and polyester, and cotton and rayon available in the oxford weave.

So if you’re looking for something that is simple and not too expensive, the oxford dress shirt is for you. It is also quite durable and will hold up well after repetitive washes. The oxford dress shirt is a classic and can be worn for almost any occasion, guaranteeing you absolute comfort and brilliant performance. You be able to look your best when sporting an oxford dress shirt as it is neither too formal nor too casual. The oxford dress shirt is a time honored classic. A safe bet.

Basically, the oxford weave involves the following: the weft, a yarn that is drawn over and subsequently under the warp or vertical yarn. The weft is comprised of a pair of fine yarns. In the oxford weave, the warp is a heavier yarn than the weft and when weaved, leaves to in a weave with a basket like pattern.

Shirt Fabrics

Pure Cotton Shirt

For many dress shirt aficionados and dress shirt purists, the 100% pure cotton dress shirt is the ultimate dress shirt. A pure cotton dress shirt means just that, the dress shirt fabric is made of 100% natural cotton. This means there no other fibers whether natural or synthetic has been blended into the weave.

Cotton is one of the most important plant in human history, having been cultivated for its fluffy cotton fiber since ancient time. Cotton has been an important commodity in the United States, India and Africa for centuries and has had a profound influence on the historical, political and society of many nations.

The cotton fiber is firstly spun into a thread or yarn which are then used to manufacture cotton fabric which are subsequently made into clothing. The cotton fabric’s soft and breathable properties makes it the ideal material to be used in making dress shirts for men. It’s breathable characteristic allows for perspiration and helps you stay cool and comfortable in hot conditions. It is therefore not surprising that the world’s first dress shirt was made of pure cotton.

Shirt Fabrics

Dobby Weave Shirt

The dobby fabric is manufactured using the unique dobby weave. In essence, when the dobby fabric is manufactured, the weaves of the fabric are raised creating more textured feel, rather than a flat or smooth. This means that the dobby fabric does not have a smooth finish, and is less easily wrinkled. The dobby weave is often used for creating checkered dress shirts and striped dress shirts. The dobby weave is also used to create all sorts of patterns for dress shirts. Shirts made of a dobby weave material therefore have more texture than a plain weave shirt.

Although the dobby dress shirt share certain similarities with the jacquard dress shirt, the dobby dress shirt differs from the jacquard dress shirt in the sense that dobby fabric is less intricate and woven faster. The advantage of the dobby fabric is that it can be woven using a combination of materials, which means that you can get the best out of all its component fibers. Depending on the fibers used in the weave, the dobby fabric can be of high quality and durability. In addition, the dobby fabric can be dyed in a vast array of colors, meaning dobby dress shirts can boast a richer color range. This is probably why the fashion world absolutely love the dobby fabric.

Shirt Fabrics

Herringbone Weave Shirt

The herringbone dress shirt’s name comes from the herringbone like pattern on the fabric. The herringbone is not a weave, but a pattern type. The herringbone pattern fall under the same family as the twill. However, the herringbone boast a very distinct v-shaped pattern on the fabric – very much like a the herring fish bone skeleton. The herringbone pattern is created by alternating the direction of the twill weave. If you look carefully, you will notice that the traditional twill weave are not parallel, with all the striations heading toward a single direction. A careful inspection of the traditional twill weave will reveal that the diagonals are not only parallel but their striations are all going in one direction.

The herringbone pattern is often favored for suits fabrics. When it comes to dress shirts, the herringbone is particularly spectacular when applied on solid colored dress shirts.

On closer inspection, the herringbone is noticeably different from the traditional oxford shirt. The herringbone pattern gives the impression of finer and perfect construction. The herringbone fabric appears thicker when compared to the oxford fabric dress shirt. The herringbone will feel much smoother and more dressy than the oxford shirt. These detailed features of a dress shirt show your taste for fine detail and give you a more stylish appearance.

Shirt Fabrics

Twill Weave Shirt

The twill dress shirt has a wonderfully unique weave which is simply stunning. The twill weave consists of a pattern that creates a diagonal parallel rib on the fabric. This weave gives the twill dress shirt added texture and thickness, without adding too much weight to the overall fabric. Generally, the regular twill dress shirt will feel smooth when you touch it. It also feels slightly lighter than the broadcloth dress shirt and the oxford dress shirt.

A fascinating aspect with twill fabric is that there is a front side (also called the technical face) and back side, unlike the plain weave which have not front or back sides. When the twill fabric is sewn into a dress shirt, the front side of the fabric always faces out. The pattern of the twill fabric is more pronounced and vivid on the front side, so your twill dress shirt is always made with the front side facing outwards for the world to see.

The beautiful diagonal ribs on a twill fabric is generated by the passing of the weft. Compared to the oxford fabric where the weft and warp simply form intersecting weaves, in the twill weave – what happens is the weft or thread that goes over and under the warp is done in a distinct fashion. This particular method of construction helps the twill dress shirt to drape nicely over your body.

Shirt Fabrics

Pinpoint Shirt

The pinpoint dress shirt share many similarities with the oxford dress shirt. Although debatable, some people believe that the pinpoint dress shirt is essentially the modern version of the oxford dress shirt. The pinpoint fabric is similar to the oxford fabric. The main difference is the thread count and weight of the fabrics.

Generally speaking, when you touch a fabric that has a higher thread count, the fabric will feel softer compared to one that has a lower thread count. In addition, the lighter weight may be due to the use of finer threads, which can help make fabrics feel softer. The pinpoint dress shirt with its higher thread count and lighter weight may be why some prefer it over the oxford dress shirt. Some regard the oxford dress shirt as have being less soft than the pinpoint dress shirt. The pinpoint dress shirt is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a neat and tidy look that is easy to maintain. Like the oxford dress shirt, the pinpoint dress shirt now come in numerous blends. Cotton is now blended with synthetic fibers like polyester, lycra and rayon. The existence of synthetic fibers can help increase the durability of the shirt and extend its lifespan.

Shirt Fabrics

Broad Cloth Shirt

The name “broadcloth” comes from the fact that, historically, the broadcloth fabric was manufactured or woven in widths that is wider than the more common 29 inches.

A broadcloth dress shirt tend to have a higher thread count than other fabrics, making the broadcloth one of the more preferred fabrics for dress shirts. The benefit of having a higher thread count is the fabric will feel softer and more luxurious when you touch it. By simply running your hand over the broadcloth material, you will instantly get a feel for how intricate the broadcloth fabric is. Therefore, the broadcloth is often associated with being high in quality. Due to its higher thread count, quality and its more luxurious feel, the broadcloth fabric is generally more expensive compared to other fabric types.

Generally, worsted and woolen broadcloth fabrics have a sheen finish, making them especially popular among shirt aficionados. When you wear a dress shirt made of high quality broadcloth fabric, it will feel as if a piece of velvet is draped over your body. The broadcloth fabric is tightly woven and has fine ribs woven into it which helps to add to the broadcloth’s luxurious finish. The broadcloth fabric can be woven from various a mixture of fibers and blends, and may also come in lighter or heavier weights. However, in general, broadcloth tend to be slightly heavier than other cloth weaves. The broadcloth’s plain shirt weave with its smooth finish makes it a perfect material for creating custom dress shirts.

The broadcloth fabric also provide greater warmth, especially when worn under a suit jacket, blazer or sweater. So you may not be surprised to know that broadcloth dress shirts are quite popular in countries with cooler weather. Broadcloth dress shirts are especially suited to the spring and autumn seasons. The high quality broadcloth is a favorite in the textile world which appreciates its high quality and durable characteristics. The broadcloth unique properties makes it an ideal material for dress shirts, bed sheets and all sorts of upholstery.

Shirt Fabrics

COTTON BLEND SHIRT

As the name suggest, your cotton blend shirt is made of fabrics which is a blend of both natural cotton fibers and synthetic fibers. You may be asking yourself whether a 100% cotton dress shirt is better than a cotton blend shirt. Okay, although the 100% pure cotton dress shirt has its advantages (like being able to withstand repetitive laundering), sometimes synthetic element are needed to create a particular look. Adding synthetic fibers like polyester helps gives your dress shirt extra sheen, color, and texture. While the 100% pure cotton dress shirt are excellent for its breathability, this breathability factor also has a downside in traps dirt particles more easily.

The two most popular types of cotton blend dress shirt materials are: 1. Cotton Blended with Polyester and 2. Cotton Blended with Lycra.

The cotton and polyester blend dress shirt has increase durability, making it longer if you take care of it properly. The reason for this greater lifespan is polyester fibers tends to be less susceptible to wrinkles, stretching and shrinking than cotton fibers. You probably already know that 100% cotton dress shirt tend to shrink slightly after the first wash. Having polyester in the fabric content addresses this. Furthermore, the cotton polyester blend dress shirt will dry quicker than a pure cotton shirt. Another upside to the cotton and polyester blend dress shirt is it is less likely to stain.

Lycra is synthetic fiber that is also commonly referred to as spandex. When the synthetic lycra material is blended with cotton, it create a fabric which has more stretching properties. This comparatively more stretchable feature makes the cotton and lycra blend dress shirt particularly suitable for those who want are more fitting dress shirt. The fabric’s ability to stretch enables it to accommodate your body where required. As you can see, having a cotton blend dress shirt means that you not only benefit from the unique properties of cotton, you also benefit from being able to enjoy the useful features of synthetic fibers like polyester and lycra.