subject: Unravel The Mystery Of The Four-pocket Guyabera Shirt [print this page] Guyabera shirts for women are seldom seen on the market. However, a lot of men, especially in Latin America, wear this shirt often. A guyabera resembles an embroidered camp shirt with two or four front pockets, designed with fine pleats sewn closely together. This type of shirt is also known as the Mexican Wedding Shirt and is part of the national costume for men in Puerto Rico.
The origin of the guyabera is still unclear. Some claim that the shirt originated from Cuba, because the name itself originated from the Cuban folk tale of a seamstress sewing large pockets onto her husbands shirts, to be filled with guavas (guayabas). Others say that the shirt originated from Mexico, then brought by the Spaniards to Cuba and the Philippines, where modifications on the embroidery were made.
There are some similar shirts to the guyabera. The Philippines Barong Tagalog is a formal, long-sleeved shirt with features similar to a guyabera. The only distinctive difference is that the Barong Tagalog doesnt feature pockets. The Samoan islands use a safari set similar to the guyabera. The most common safari shirt features tightly-sewn vertical pleats and two to four buttoned front pockets.
Guyabera shirts are now very popular in the fashion industry. In fact, these shirts are acceptable as office attire, especially during hot weather. Although a guyabera is often categorized as summer clothing, long-sleeved guyaberas are available on the market. Long-sleeved guyabera shirts are usually worn during weddings and other formal gatherings.
Traditionally, only older men wore the guyabera shirt, but when the retro style was revived, the younger population patronized the guyabera as much as adults did. In most cities in the United States, the guyabera has become one of the most popular pieces of clothing, for corporate and casual occasions. The guyabera is especially popular among men, who prefer the guyabera for its versatility.
These shirts are available in many colors, the most common of which are white, pastels, and earth tones. Most guyabera shirts are made from cotton, silk, polyester, and linen. The guyabera is popular in countries with weather that requires lightweight, cool clothing.