Polo Shirts – Uniforms and Embroidery

A Brief History Of Polo Shirts

Polo shirts are a popular item of clothing among sporting individuals. This has been the case since the creation of men’s polo shirts in the 1800s. Women’s polo shirts are a relatively new phenomenon. Like so many other articles of clothing, they were only adopted by women at a later date. Nevertheless, polo shirts by Tampa T Shirts are designed to suit both men and women.

Men’s Polo Shirts – The Beginning of a Trend

Polo Shirts - Uniforms and Embroidery
Polo Shirts – Uniforms and Embroidery
As is so often the case, necessity is the mother of invention. In Manipur India, where British soldiers were stationed during the 1800s, the men quickly adopted the game of Polo. The problem lay with the attire. The traditional clothing was too heavy and bulky for the British. The shirts flapped in the wind. They adapted the outfit, buttoning down the shirt. It and the sport was brought to England in 1862.
It was in England, while he was at a match, that the shirt design caught the eye of John E Brooks, an American in England as part of a buying trip. He liked the idea so much, he took it back home to his grandfather’s company – Brook Brothers where they adapted it to dress shirts. They, therefore, claim to be the inventor of the first custom polo shirts.
Yet, the modern Polo shirt owes much more to individuals who actually played sports. Among them was Jean Rene Lacoste (1904 – 1996). He was a Tennis legend of the 1920s. He made alterations to the accepted tennis attire replacing rolled up sleeves with short ones and an unstarched collar. He wore his polo shirt while winning the 1926 US open championship. This began a wave of popularity that resulted in greater changes to his design.
The Lacoste Tennis Shirt was embraced by Polo players. By the 1940s, the Lacoste shirt had become what can only be termed a “sporting classic.” It became known, however, not as the Lacoste Tennis Shirt but as a polo shirt. Lacoste further tinkered with his shirts. He made color custom polo shirts. The polo shirts Tampa T Shirts currently offer provides this option for both men’s and women’s polo shirts.

Custom Polo Shirts – A Fashionable Idea

During the 1950s, anyone who was anyone was seen wearing the Lacoste Polo Shirt, including Eisenhower. However, the younger crowd preferred to sport the newest designs by tennis pro Fred Perry. Teenagers began to wear it as a fashion statement not because they were interested in playing golf, polo or tennis. Yet, it was not until the designer, Ralph Lauren released his version, the Royals – Polo, in 1972 that custom polo shirts truly became the property of the fashion conscious.
In the battle that followed between designers, Lauren’s Polo Shirt won. It went on to become an iconic shirt worn by those who played sports and those who knew nothing about sports. Computer technicians adopted them in the 1990s. Businesses saw the potential of these shirts to brand their company. They have remained a popular part of the work world ever since.
Both men’s and women’s polo shirts are now part of a dress code of teams and businesses. They can be used to brand the employees and the company they represent. This is one of the skills we, at Tampa T Shirts, possess. We provide quality classic custom polo shirts for all within quickly and inexpensively.
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