The History of Chambray Shirts

In the mid-1500s, a fabric called cambric emerged. It featured a plain weave and was originally made from linen. First produced in Cambrai, a formerly Flemish region in northern France, the cloth was soon adopted for making shirts, handkerchiefs, and even intricate pieces such as lace and needlework. Chambray developed from cambric and by the early 1800s, the English version of the term for the fabric, “chambray,” was being used widely. In 1831, chambray shirts were endorsed by the U.S. Farmer’s Bulletin as being a suitable choice for work in mild weather because they were very durable yet lightweight. In 1901, the U.S. Navy authorized the use of chambray shirts and denim trousers, and sailors wore these garments from the early 1900s through World War II. Workers all across the U.S. also adopted the lightweight but durable chambray shirts, a phenomenon that gave rise to the phrase “blue collar workers.” Today, chambray dress shirts made from a lighter weave have become a common fashion choice, while the traditional chambray shirts featuring a heavier weave remain popular among laborers for their practicality and durability.