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The types of shirting weaves used for bespoke shirts
Here we provide an overview of the different types of fabrics commonly used in bespoke tailored shirts for both man and woman. By understanding what the different weaves mean for a fabric you can be sure to find the ideal dress shirt fabric for your needs.
Broadcloth
Broadcloth—often referred to as poplin–is a tightly woven fabric with a very simple over-under weave and very little sheen, which makes it nice and professional.
Broadcloths are great for people looking for as little texture as possible in their fabrics. They are generally a thinner, lighter fabric.
Particularly, white broadcloth fabrics can be slightly transparent.
Broadcloths generally wear the smoothest out of all weaves thanks to their lack of texture, but can also be the most prone to wrinkling.
Poplin
Poplin is so similar to Broadcloth that we decided not to distinguish between the two in our fabric descriptions. For all practical purposes you can equate the two.
They are both a plain weave fabric that is going to be quite thin, smooth and flat. That said, technically Poplin is different than Broadcloth in that Poplins can have different weight yarns in the warp and weft while broadcloths will have a a symmetrical construction.
For example, broadcloths could be 100/2×100/2 (meaning 100s two-ply in the warp and weft) while a poplin could be 100/2×60/1 (meaning 100s two-ply in the warp and 60s single-ply in the weft).
Twill
Twill fabrics are easily recognizable because they will show a diagonal weave. The diagonal effect can range from very fine, subtle twills to much larger Imperial or Cavalry twills.
Twills will almost always have a bit of shine, though it can depend on the weave, color, and cotton used. Twill is an extremely tight weave, that can come in extremely high thread counts, some of which might be mistaken for silk.
Because of the diagonal texture twill is a bit softer than broadcloth and will drape more easily. Twill won’t give you the same “crisp” look that freshly pressed broadcloth can, but it’s relatively easy to iron and resistant to wrinkles.
Oxford
Oxford cloth is very similar to pinpoint oxford, except it uses a slightly heavier thread and looser weave. It has a slightly rougher texture but is more durable than most fabrics. It’s composed of a symmetrical basketweave where one yarn may cross two yarns.
Originally developed for sportswear, so it’s the least dressy, and (in some circles) not considered appropriate for office or formal wear. Oxford cloth has always been a staple in traditional American button down polo shirts. It can be worn slightly wrinkled straight from the dryer and still look great.
Royal Oxford
Royal Oxford is what we call a “pretty fabric”. Although the name is similar, it is not at all similar to pinpoint oxford or oxford cloth. It is a dressy fabric with a distinctive shine and texture.
With a more prominent weave than broadcloth or pinpoint, it’s ideal for those interested in a dress or formal shirt with visible texture.
Pinpoint Oxford
Pinpoint (also referred to as pinpoint oxford) has the same weave as oxford cloth, although it uses a finer yarn and tighter weave. It is more formal than oxford cloth, but less formal than broadcloth or twill.
Think of them as great everyday work shirts, but not ideal for special events. Pinpoint fabrics are generally not transparent and are slightly heavier and thicker than broadcloths.
Because of their heavier construction, pinpoints are fairly durable fabrics. Opt for a twill or broadcloth if you’re looking for a formal shirt.
Chambray
Chambray is a plain weave fabric. That means it has a similar construction to broadcloth, though it is generally made with heavier yarns for a more relaxed or workwear appeal.
Generally there will be white threads running in the weft/width direction such that the fabric has an inconsistent colour to it. This could be compared to an end-on-end, though chambray is generally much heavier and more appropriate for casual wear than dress.
Dobby
Dobby (which is very similar to Jacquard, although technically different) can vary widely. Some versions are quite similar to broadcloth in terms of thickness and weight, while others can be thicker or woven to almost look like twill.
Many dobby fabrics have stripes woven into them, although some are solid colors. The solid colors tend to have a faint stripe or dotted patterns woven in the same color as the base cloth.
End-On-End
End-on-end broadcloths are a very popular type of dress shirt fabric with a distinct contrast coloring. Woven with colored thread in the warp and white thread in the weft, it looks like a true solid from a distance, but has more texture when seen from up close.
Typically a lighter weight fabric, it’s a great choice for those living in warmer climates.
Herringbone
Herringbone shirts are popular, more textured shirts for both dress and casual wear. Herringbone is essentially a twill that is mirrored when woven to create the sort of chevron, “V-shaped” look. The fabric’s name comes from its resemblance to the bones of a herring fish.
Seersucker
Seersucker is a fabric primarily used to make shirt for warm weather, and is is known for its distinctive, puckered appearance. This puckered look is created in the finishing of the fabric, after it’s woven, and helps to promote air flow while being worn.
This helps make seersucker very comfortable in the summer. While seersucker fabrics can come in any colour or pattern, blue striped seersucker is most popular.
Linen
Linen fabrics are incredibly breathable and, like seersucker, typically made to be worn in hot climates. Linen is made from fibre of the flax plant, and can be very labour intensive to produce.
Typically linen will be more loosely woven and sheer than most cotton shirts, and has a very unique dry hand to it that is unlike cotton. Linen also tends to wrinkle more easily than cotton and generally feels much more relaxed because of this.
While we love the look and feel of linen, some people prefer cotton/linen blended shirts as you can achieve much of the coolness of a linen shirt while reducing the wrinkling.
Melange
Melange fabrics can come in every sort of weave–poplin, twill, royal Oxford, etc–and are woven using multi-coloured yarns. Each yarn will be dyed this way, most often with 2-3 subtlety different hues.
These unique yarns can help achieve a heathered, intentionally inconsistent, somewhat organic look. Melange fabrics are different than Mouline fabrics, as Mouline fabrics are made from consistent, one-colour yarns that are twisted together to achieve a multi-colour look.
Flannel
A fall/winter favourite. Flannels are warm, fuzzy fabrics that are most often brushed twill or brushed poplin fabrics. While they’re most regularly 100% cotton, they sometimes can come in cotton/wool, and even cotton/cashmere blends for added warmth.
Usually made in thicker weaves, these are decidedly casual fabrics that are great for cold weather.
Denim
We all know denim as the fabric of our jeans. But construction wise, denim is a twill fabric. A sturdy, possibly coarser twill often dyed with indigo.
For the most part though, when it comes to denim shirting, you’re mostly going to find much softer, lighter versions of the fabric than what your jeans are made of. Denim shirting can come in many forms but generally have a different colour on the inside than the outside.
