Sew....why are Oxford shirts a popular corporate clothing option? Well, the open weave 100% cotton shirt means that the shirt is breathable, making them a good choice for South African summers not to mention the durability of the fabric making it just as effective to wear in winter together with a cardi or V-neck jersey..
Oxford cloth is traditionally woven using a basket weave technique often using two slightly different but tone on tone yarns giving the fabric its distinctive but subtle marl pattern. (see close up below).
Oxford shirts were first used in playing Polo and was considered a staple part of the game pre 1930's. They were also used as formal wear with a Jacket. One shirt - two identities both casual and formal and the fabric works well in both environments. The shirt went through a second re-birth being used by the preppy Ivy League students worn un-tucked with shorts and loafers in the 1950's.
It is thought that the Oxford weave originated in a Scottish mill which constructed four new fabric weaves around the late 1800's naming each one after the four prestigious Universities: Harvard, Yale, Cambridge and, of course, Oxford.
Variations of the cloth include plain Oxford, the Pinpoint Oxford and the more formal Royal Oxford.
It incorporated a heavy basket weave texture with strong white overtones on a coloured background.
Basket weave is a variation of the plain weave. In this, two or more warps yarns cross alternately side-by-side with two or more weft yarns. This type of weave resembles a plaited basket.
In Royal Oxford the warp has two fine yarns paired together. The weft has one heavier, softly spun fill yarn, which gives the fabric a very subtle basketweave look with a silk-like and lustrous finish.
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A more recent use of the fabric has been to use it around the home for window treatments, duvet covers and pillow cases as the fabric is machine washable and easy to maintain as it tends to hold its shape very well requiring little to no ironing.
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