The guayabera shirt, also known as the Mexican wedding shirt, is a popular men’s summer shirt with two vertical rows of pleats and two to four pockets. It can be made from any lightweight fabric in any color and is popular in many countries, including Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Zimbabwe. Women’s versions are also available.
A guayabera shirt is an article of clothing generally worn by men and is popular in hot weather. Also called a Mexican wedding shirt, this item of clothing is often thought to have originated somewhere in Latin America, though not necessarily Mexico. The shirt design includes two vertical rows of small pleats on the front and back of the shirt, and two to four large symmetrical pockets on the front of the shirt.
These shirts can be constructed from any lightweight fabric in any color. Popular fabrics include cotton, silk, polyester, and linen. Traditionally the shirt was made in white, pastels and earth tones, but today any color can be produced. High-quality shirts are usually made from linen, but the most common fabric is a polyester-cotton blend, which is popular for both its breathability and durability. A guayabera shirt can also be made from heavier materials as long as it accommodates the pocket and pleat restrictions of the design.
The pleats used as a distinctive part of the guayabera shirt design are called tucks. They are sewn close together using extremely minute amounts of fabric. These folds often give the appearance of a single vertical band when viewed from a distance, not many small lines. Sometimes the pleats are replaced entirely with an embroidered band, especially if the shirt is for a boy. Since the shirt pockets sit on top of the vertical bands, they line up and embellish as a separate layer, continuing the design on both the body of the shirt and the pocket that covers the shirt.
While most people think of a guayabera shirt as a men’s summer shirt, this is simply the most common incarnation of the design. For men, a version of this design is also made with long sleeves, the torso part of which directly resembles the more summery guayabera shirt. Women’s versions of this design are also appearing in stores, either altering an existing shirt or designing a new one from scratch. The shirt can be a fitted version of the men’s pattern, or it can be completely unique, like a guayabera dress.
Guayabera shirts tend to be popular anywhere a light and refreshing shirt is needed due to the weather, no matter where in the world you may be. It is a common design in Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The shirt is considered part of the national costume of Puerto Rico. In Zimbabwe, this shirt became popular due to its association with the Cuban teachers who lived there, and is now worn for special occasions. A guayabera shirt can be seen occasionally in almost any country, and has become a common item of clothing throughout the world.
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