The story of a shirt like no other
There are several tales surrounding the origins of the guayabera shirt.
The most often told takes place in the mid-18th century, in the province of Sancti Spíritus, in central Cuba. One day, a potter asks his wife to sew him a long-sleeved shirt with multiple pockets to carry his personal belongings.
The shirt's practicality and elegance caught the attention of the region's guava farmers (known as guayaberos), who began wearing it and filling its pockets with the guavas they cultivated.
There are also 19th-century records indicating that the shape of the guayabera may have been influenced by the uniforms of Spanish and Cuban soldiers of the time, which often featured four front patch pockets.
By the 20th century, the guayabera became more widely available and grew in popularity, spreading throughout Cuba, worn by both workers and politicians. Eventually, it crossed borders, and was seen on well-known personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Robert De Niro, and Gary Cooper.
This season, we're offering our own interpretation of the guayabera with four practical and visually striking pockets,a laid-back Cuban collar, and long sleeves you can roll up at will.
You’ll also find two side slits, for added comfort and relaxed ease.
A Japanese fabric with pinpoint precision
Our love for texture strikes again.
This captivating fabric features a soft, organic beige base that pairs effortlessly with every seasonal color. Over it lies a discreet grid pattern, drawn in faint green lines—almost faded—reminiscent of the delicate precision of graph paper.
And to add even more depth and texture, the fabric blends 56% cotton for softness and structure with 44% linen for breathability and the natural irregularities we love—tiny cotton neps that subtly rise to the surface.
This kind of fabric—so rich in character—is something you’ll only find in Japan, and specifically here, at Shuttle Notes. This discreet Japanese mill has been creating distinctively textured fabrics for over 70 years in its Nishiwaki workshop, using traditional shuttle looms.
