The embroidery of the charro shirt

As we already explained in some of our articles, Mexican charro origin’s history is associated with Spanish conquerors arrival and horse reintroduction to the New World. The charro suit, that can be gala or work, consisted on trousers, shirt, short jacket, sometimes vest, ankle boots and a rebozo tie. This particular style nowadays still in use, and not only in México, but has many adepts around the world. 

Within the clothes that charro’s attire is composed by, shirts are probably the easiest ones to wear in any environment, also the most urban. Charro shirts distinctive features, make them to be wearable whether the most special celebrations as for the daily use. In this sense, shirt’s color will have certain influence, for example: if it’s white, what makes the exquisite charro embroideries to stand out, will specially be ideal for formal occasions even for gala. 

The most typical charro shirt, was white or cream, the considered simple colors. It’s been with the passing of time that this clothing is also being made in bordeaux, blue or even green colors. As an example we have the Ranger’s charro shirts, the charro and western Mexican brand, whose Mexican shirts of the highest quality stands out in the worldwide market.

The charro embroidery: origin and mystery

If there is something that characterizes the charro shirts and distinguish them from the rest, are the beautiful embroideries present at the shoulders, chest and arms. What not everybody knows is that the embroidery had on its origins as much artistic relevance as the painting. Its origin is previous to the Middle Ages, being the Babylonian civilization the creator of the embroidery as we nowadays know it. Embroidery’s artistic value was so high that the Babylonian used embroidered clothing for trading in exchange of spices.

With the Middle Ages arrival, important innovations in the embroideries appeared, starting to be used at the tunic, being specially used in monarch’s attire and also for some warriors.

In those days, for the embroidery it was used the crossed point and chain stitch, that later on was replaced by the flat point, allowing the mix of genuine gold with silk thread. The exquisite bond of these two materials remained during centuries, contributing to upraise embroidery’s overall value. In fact, only the aristocrats could afford showing embroideries during the 18th Century, being considered a sign of economical superiority.

Fine foliage and delicate flowers were embroidery’s protagonists, and still remain as main theme at the current charro shirts.

With 19th Century, the manual embroidery was replaced by the machine one, so spreaded to a wider part of the population and gained popularity. 

Since then and until now, the embroidery is present in the dressmaking, and is in the men’s and ladies charro shirts where shows in all its splendor. This embroidery usually represents exquisite floral motifs like fleur de lis, rush, stalk, spirals, some times birds like the eagle, or motifs related to horses, like horseshoes.

We should point out that charro shirt embroideries are very similar to a handmade embroidery typical from Salamanca, called precisely “charro embroidery”, like all the native from Salamanca. 

Is this coincidence, or also consequence of spanish conquerors arrival to mexican lands? Anyway, it isn’t easy to exactly determine, but what is sure is that the embroidery represents an ancestral art form, and very few clothing like the Mexican shirts with their charro embroideries reflect it with so much style

The charro shirts that will find at Corbeto’s

If you already heard about us, you will know that our passion for the western clothing and all what covers, including of course the charro shirts, turns into the broad assortment of exclusive products that will find both at our local shop and online. 

At Corbeto’s we are very watchful to the novelties that appear at our western style universe, and offer the quality and variety as an specialized store we are. Because of that, if you like the Mexican shirts, the charro shirts, or just want to discover this particular style rich on elegance, genuiness and details, do not hesitate taking a look to the nice selection we propose at Corbeto’s.

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