Before performance polos became trendy wear, they were the identification of polo players. This is where these shirts got their name. We wear a lot of different styles and types of apparel. Some are just regular clothes, while others have a fascinating history associated with their evolution. And the history of polo shirts is a well-known one. But if you didn't know till today, this article is right here for you.

Let’s begin with the “what” part of the Polo shirt.

What is Custom Performance Polo Shirt?

A Polo shirt is a type of shirt that has a collar, three buttons, a pocket, and a placket neckline. It is made of knitted cotton. Since it was invented, there have been many improvements in the material and style, but the most interesting innovation is its moisture-wicking ability. Companies have started manufacturing custom performance polo shirts with lightweight material to make the players feel comfortable and dry during challenging games.

History of Polo Shirts

Indian Origin

In the 19th century, polo was first introduced in the Indian Northeast state of Manipur where aristocrats used to wear this shirt. Later, the British people adopted it and then brought and dispersed it in the country. At this point, this sportswear was synonymous with luxury and the upper class. It was featured as a long-sleeved cotton shirt with an irritating collar flapping during the game. The players resolved this issue by attaching buttons to keep these flaps in place. These were known as button-down polo shirts.

John Brooks, US Version (1896)

In the late 1800s, John E. Brooks visited England to watch the match, and there he noticed the players fixing the flapped collar with pins and buttons. On his return to the US, he introduced button-down collars to the dress shirt collection of Brooks Brothers. In 1896, the button-down polo was first thrown out in the mass market.

The customization began in 1920 when the Argentinian polo star Lewis Lacey placed players' logos on his game wear. Then he started selling branded shirts with a player on the pony.

France Involvement (1929 - the 1930s)

Then came the pique polo shirt that doesn't have its origin on the polo but tennis field. It was a shirt with a collar and three buttons in a row. French designed it for tennis players in 1929. Simultaneously, a famous tennis player, René Lacoste, brought a revolution in the tennis shirt and converted it from a button-up to the more modern one. It was a short-sleeved white polo with an embroidered crocodile on the left side of the chest, a tennis tail, and a flat collar. The back of the tennis tail shirt was longer than the front, and it helped keep the shirts tucked in while playing. The crocodile was reflecting his nickname, and he designed this shirt only for himself. However, later in the 1930s, when he retired officially from tennis, Lactose, along with his friend André Gillier introduced his styled polos in the mass market of Europe and North America.

Ralph Lauren (1972)

Years later, somewhere around 1972, Ralph Lauren made polo a mainstream shirt featuring a horse rider playing polo. It was then that the polos were modernized and the commoners started wearing them. Companies started using polyester instead of cotton, as now these shirts were more casual than formal.

Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is comfortable, durable, and has sweat-wicking properties. At this point, these shirts were more famous as Golf shirts than polo shirts, as they had a pocket on the left pocket to place pencils and scorecards. These shirts also had an embroidered polo player on the left chest. This shirt is now one of the most favorite ones besides Lactose’s version.

What is Happening Now?

People use the Ralph Lauren version, Lactose’s version, and a few other styles as everyday casual wear while golf and tennis players still wear them. People wear these shirts regularly and also on special occasions. Many schools have this attire as part of their school uniform. 

With time people forget that their ancestors used to wear these shirts only during games and formal events, or were worn by royal people. And they began to consider that polo cannot be worn as formal attire. But business wear is shifting from strictly formal to a mix of formal and casual and now people wear this attire at their workplace and in meetings.

Most polos are unisex, although some brands create cuts for females who actively wear this functional and versatile piece of clothing. Women mostly like polos, because they can pair these shirts with any bottom they want.

Moreover, custom performance polo shirts are now widely available at many eCommerce stores like ApparelnBags. Here you can find budget-friendly options with multiple choices in colors, styles, and even brands.