When it comes to timeless, iconic clothing, pieces such as leather jackets, jeans, and plain white T-shirts come to mind. Another product that will definitely be on this list is the Polo t-shirt. In 1972, iconic American designer Ralph Lauren began marketing traditional tennis shirts as “Polo shirts” as part of the original Polo line. Now, fifty years later, the Ralph Lauren Polo shirt has been seen in a wide variety of pop culture figures from rappers to golfers to royalty and has become an integral part of the timeless, mainstream fashion world. Users include many more who have bridged the sportswear roots of the Polo shirt to make it a full-on fashion phenomenon.
Ironically, the classic Ralph Lauren Polo shirt we know and love today was born out of tennis, not polo. In the early 1900s, tennis players wore long-sleeved button-down shirts for their matches. By the 1950s, Polo’s reputation had gone beyond sportswear, making it a trendy piece for lunch on both the tennis court and country club. Polo t-shirts soon went off the field and soon became an American staple as a symbol of sportswear.
Advances in technologies during the 1960s saw the rise of the polyester fabric from which many polo shirts were built as it was less prone to fading, making it ideal for everyday wear and athletic endeavors. But young designer Ralph Lauren wasn’t a fan of this new fabric, as he enjoyed the patina that comes naturally with wearing natural fabrics over time. As a result, in 1972 Lauren launched her own version with the goal of reproducing the classic knit piqué cotton tennis shirt of bygone days. With a choice of 24 colours, Lauren marketed the shirt with the slogan “it gets better with age,” and the Ralph Lauren Polo shirt soon established itself as the ideal knit tennis shirt. Embellished with the iconic polo player motif, Lauren’s iteration tee has remained unique to Ralph Lauren’s most popular item for nearly fifty years, and as Lauren predicted, Polo really does get better and better with age.
This spring, to celebrate the golden anniversary of his most iconic piece, Ralph Lauren will launch an honorary campaign to highlight the Polo shirt and its continued cultural influence. At the center of this campaign will be the book “Polo Shirt” by Ralph Lauren. Published by Rizzoli International, the book is through historical images and personal stories from celebrities, politicians, royalty, athletes and loyal fans; It will document the ubiquitous style and cultural significance of the Ralph Lauren Polo shirt. It will also highlight the various people who have made Polo the focal point of their style and inspire others to do the same.
Polo shirt has undoubtedly touched all of our lives. Whether it’s from iconic pop culture moments or in our own wardrobes, Ralph Lauren’s signature piece will forever be a part of the classic fashion lexicon. Needless to say, after fifty years of existence, the popularity of the Polo shirt has not waned and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon…
