What led to the formation of Polo shirts?
Fashion has evolved over time, this is due to the efforts of the designers working tirelessly overnight to make something unique and extraordinary that stands out. However, when we talk about Polo Shirts it is important to know that no great designer has designed them. The mastermind behind this piece of art worn by thousands of people today was a tennis player. The origin of polo shirts can be traced back to the 20th century when Rene Lacoste a tennis player realized that he wasn’t able to give his best due to the attire worn by tennis players those days. An idea came to his mind to redesign the typical long-sleeved shirt and tie it into something that is much more comfortable to wear while playing sports. He wore this redesigned shirt for the first time in the 1926 US Championship which gained popularity in a short period of time. It is important to note that this was the initial design that served as the basis for modern polo shirts. Because of the popularity gained by this polo shirt Rene’s Chemise Lacoste company came into existence. This company started manufacturing these polo shirts in bulk engraved by the famous crocodile logo and started selling them in North America and Europe. In a short interval of time, professional polo players started wearing this Lacoste polo shirt making it widely recognized and associated with this sport.
Additional Brands Selling Polo Shirts
The beginning of the 1970s saw the fashion brand Ralph Lauren launch its 'Sport of Kings' clothing collection, which featured the 'polo shirt' as its focal point, thus establishing the link connecting tennis and polo shirts.
Because of the 'Mod' movement in the UK in the 1960s, adolescents became fond of Fred Perry's polo shirt. Then, in the course of the 1970s, it gained popularity among Northerners, Skinheads, and nasty lads in addition to football hooligans. In the early 1990s, The Brit Poppers popularized it.
Blank polo shirts:
There are some pieces that ought to be in your wardrobe no matter what or they should be considered important even if you’re building a capsule wardrobe. Blank polo shirts are one of these pieces because of how versatile they are. Whether you’re going for a business meeting, going on a picnic, or playing a sport, these shirts can be worn anywhere and everywhere. To give you a clearer idea, these are not like any other normal T-shirts that you can find at a local store. Following are some of the characteristics of a blank polo shirt:
The key characteristics of a blank polo shirt by which you’d be able to identify them are the collar and a slit that is joined to the collar and comes down under the collar; this is known as a buttoned placket.
Collar:
At times different types of fabric are used to make collars of the blank polo shirts. Some polos make use of a self-fabric collar meaning the same colored material is used for the collar and the entire body of the shirt. On the contrary, some shirts feature contrast collars that are formed by different shades of material of the same type. This is mostly seen with shirts that give more of a sports look.
Opening:
As described above the joined part that comes down from the collar known as the placket provides an opening. Additionally, this is the place where the buttons of the shirt are located. A typical blank polo shirt always consists of two to three buttons situated on the placket. Three-buttoned placket polo shirts are mostly worn at formal occasions while two-buttoned placket polo shirts are the most popular and commonly found suitable for every occasion.
Diving deep into the crafting of Blank polo Shirts:
100% polyester, cotton, and combinations or mixtures of 94% polyester and 4% spandex are used for the formation of blank polo shirts. A unique characteristic of polo shirts that makes it stand out from other shirts is the use of knitted weave. By using this a unique texture is formed that is raised and patterned. In addition to this, using knitted weaves offers durability and increased dimension and texture. It also aids in preventing sweat patches from being visible on the shirt.
Cotton polo shirts are the most breathable, soft, and moisture-absorbing and are considered the best option to wear for business casual attire. This can be used by companies to make uniforms for their staff as well.
Pique is used mostly in sportswear and dress shirts showcasing its adaptability. However, one should be extremely careful and should opt for a larger size as they have the tendency to shrink over time. One should avoid putting them into the dryer. Jersey-made polos tend to be softer and are perfect for sportswear. Credit goes to Lacoste for making it a standard garment for polo.
Differentiating between pique and Jersey?
The qualities provided by both pique and jersey polo shirts are so similar that it becomes confusing for us to pick the perfect fabric blank polo shirt. Well, with Cotton Connection being there for you worry less as we’ve got you covered. Pique has the ability to hide sweat patches and it creates a textured surface that is almost identical to a waffle weave., The exact same material used for t-shirts is called jersey, and it has a smooth, flat front because of strands that intrude into the fabric.
How do I understand male or female polo shirts:
With a female polo shirt, the logo is always engraved at the upward or middle button whereas for a man it is always aligned right on the chest.