With its many graphic qualities, herringbone holds a special place in the men's wardrobe. Less common than twill, whose process it shares, this zigzag pattern is often associated with a distinctly British elegance. It is frequently found on the tweed jackets and waistcoats favoured by gentleman farmers, those elegant English landowners with a carefully cultivated rusticity. While the Hast herringbone shirt embraces this celebrated pattern, it does so from a far more urban and modern perspective, distilling its vintage spirit in restrained, delicate touches. The result is a subtle balance between originality and versatility, with a fabric that is easy to pair yet visually engaging.
In menswear, herringbone most often refers to a type of weave, a weaving technique that creates this zigzag effect. There is therefore no need to use dye: to make a men's herringbone shirt, the threads simply need to be arranged in a certain way. Like twill, herringbone is based on a twill weave. Unlike the widely used plain weave, in which warp threads (lengthwise) and weft threads (widthwise) interlace regularly (one over, one under), twill alters these intervals to create the illusion of a diagonal. For example, a warp thread can pass under two weft threads, shifting the starting point each time. Using threads in different colours, alternating for instance between a light and a dark shade, will accentuate this effect. If, despite these explanations, you still struggle to picture the final result, take a close look at your jeans, which are also made in twill. For herringbone, it is more or less the same thing; the same method is used to create the illusion of diagonal lines meeting one another.
Like all our shirts, our Hast herringbone shirts are 100% cotton. In their formal version, they have an average yarn count of 100/2. In their casual version, they feature a button-down collar and comfort pleats for maximum ease. In every case, the herringbone pattern brings a touch of understated originality to the piece. Without creating strong contrast, this distinctive weave adds texture to the shirt. It is the ideal choice for subtly enhancing the elegance of an outfit, without resorting to overly visible patterns or bold colours. Finally, our herringbone shirt is not the only piece to feature this aesthetic. It can also be found on our work jackets, where it adds a vintage touch.
What is herringbone fabric?
In menswear, herringbone most often refers to a type of weave, a weaving technique that creates this zigzag effect. There is therefore no need to use dye: to make a men's herringbone shirt, the threads simply need to be arranged in a certain way. Like twill, herringbone is based on a twill weave. Unlike the widely used plain weave, in which warp threads (lengthwise) and weft threads (widthwise) interlace regularly (one over, one under), twill alters these intervals to create the illusion of a diagonal. For example, a warp thread can pass under two weft threads, shifting the starting point each time. Using threads in different colours, alternating for instance between a light and a dark shade, will accentuate this effect. If, despite these explanations, you still struggle to picture the final result, take a close look at your jeans, which are also made in twill. For herringbone, it is more or less the same thing; the same method is used to create the illusion of diagonal lines meeting one another.
Why choose herringbone?
Like all our shirts, our Hast herringbone shirts are 100% cotton. In their formal version, they have an average yarn count of 100/2. In their casual version, they feature a button-down collar and comfort pleats for maximum ease. In every case, the herringbone pattern brings a touch of understated originality to the piece. Without creating strong contrast, this distinctive weave adds texture to the shirt. It is the ideal choice for subtly enhancing the elegance of an outfit, without resorting to overly visible patterns or bold colours. Finally, our herringbone shirt is not the only piece to feature this aesthetic. It can also be found on our work jackets, where it adds a vintage touch.