The polo shirt dates back to the early 20th century, when tennis superstar and seven-time Grand Slam champion René Lacoste debuted his namesake crocodile-embroidered shirt at the 1926 U.S. Open. Lacoste designed the shirt to accommodate the needs of tennis players: he modified the traditional tennis shirt by adding short sleeves for ease of movement and piqué cotton for comfort and breathability, while keeping a collar and buttoned placket to maintain a more professional appearance.
A few years later, Lacoste began selling the shirts in Europe and the U.S., where they were quickly adopted by polo and golf players looking for competitive athletic advantages. Naturally, polo shirts became the defacto corporate casual attire, because business leaders looking for competitive athletic… um… no, wait, I’ve got this…
Alright, so maybe the original purpose is lost on its contemporary use, but that doesn’t change the fact that polo shirts are one of the most popular garments today. Whether the official uniform at a prep school or a retail store, or the preferred uniform in an office or on the golf course, polo shirts reign supreme. Below are just a few of our favorites, but you can check out almost 8,000 other options on PromoMarketing.com’s Search engine.
Oh wait, now I remember. Business leaders adopted polo shirts as acceptable corporate attire so they could practice their golf swing in the office. It all makes sense now.
Ladies’ Choice
Polo shirts may have been designed with men in mind, but as the song goes, “Anything you can do, I can do better.” The Bella Cotton/Spandex Mini Piqué Polo, available from Imprints Wholesale, tailors the shirt for women with four button reversed placket, feminine cut and its 97/3 cotton/spandex blend. And I think we can all agree that women do spandex better.
The Official Shirt of Calvinball
Some combinations work better than others. Water plus polo? Brilliant. Rugby plus polo? Not so much, unless you’re talking about the Proline Rugby Stripe Polo from Atlantic Coast Cotton. The polo features one of six traditional rugby stripe patterns on a 55/45 cotton/poly piqué knit body. The shirt’s double-needle stitching and flexible shoulder taping give it the durability to survive the most rugged treatment. Although if you’ve ever watched a rugby match, “survive” is being generous.
It’s Evolution, Baby
Dunbrooke’s Evolution and Lady Evolution polo shirts are the choice for the environmentally conscious end-buyer. The coordinating shirts are made from 100 percent certified organic 5 oz. cotton and are dyed using azo-free chemicals. The polos are available in five matching colors, in sizes S to 5XL for men and S to 4XL for ladies. Awesome hammock sold separately.
