These days we tend to take a lot of our everyday clothing for granted. After all, who can remember what life was like before the T-Shirt or sneakers? One of the classier, sportier shirts we enjoy wearing is the humble promotional polo shirt. But did you know that the polo shirt has a unique and exciting history tied to the growth of modern tennis itself?
- Polo shirts originated from sporting needs.
- Evolved designs reflect changing fashion trends.
- They’re versatile tools for brand promotion.
Promotional Polo Shirts: Made For Tennis
In the 1920’s tennis was still being played in a traditional uniform of “tennis whites”. Formal style slacks, long sleeved (collared) shirts, and frequently ties as well. Unsurprisingly this made for a nice formal look but not a great playing outfit – the uniforms didn’t allow a great range of movement and were stifling when worn by players in the heat. Enter dazzling French tennis star, René Lacoste. One of the best players of his day, Lacoste won seven grand slam titles and was a well-known celebrity across the globe. Nicknamed “The Alligator” (which the French changed to “The Crocodile”), he wasn’t a fan of the cramped formal uniforms – and began having an Alligator embroidered on the blazer he wore to matches.
Lacoste started wearing lighter shirts to his matches in turn, these shirts were made from easy-breathe fabric and had a simple, stylish design. These were polo shirts and, like Lacoste’s blazers, his game-time polo shirts were embroidered with a small reptile insignia which we now associate with the Lacoste clothing brand. That’s right, Lacoste designed polo shirts to specifically be worn by tennis and golf pros struggling with cumbersome uniforms like he was. Lacoste didn’t found the brand formally until his retirement from the game, but it was all the publicity he’d generated during his playing days that helped make the Lacoste brand synonymous with quality polo shirts.
These days people wear polo shirts with embroidered decoration for sport, casual wear, workplace attire, and uniforms. They’re some of the most popular and versitile items of clothing available today. The emphasis on style as well as functionality means that Lacoste’s vision is still going strong these days – as is his brand, with the humble embroidered gator becoming the very definition of outdoors style. You don’t have to get a Lacoste brand shirt to experience a great wearing polo though, these days there are a huge number of brands that can provide and decorate these units to your exact specifications. Talk about progress!
Promotional Polo Shirts Applications
Promotional polo shirts are a versatile marketing tool, providing companies the opportunity to combine practical functionality with their branding initiatives.
- Corporate events: Companies often utilise custom polo shirts to create a cohesive brand image at conferences, trade shows, and other corporate gatherings
- Employee uniforms: Customised polo shirts are a popular choice for uniforms in the workplace, combining comfort with professionalism
- Sports teams: Many sports clubs and recreational teams choose custom polo shirts as team uniforms due to their stylish and athletic appearance and functionality
- Fundraisers and charity organisations: Nonprofits may use branded polo shirts to raise awareness for their cause or during fundraising events to promote donations
Takeaway
In conclusion, the branded polo shirt has a rich history that encompasses both the world of fashion and sport. Its versatility and adaptability have allowed it to remain popular not only as casual wear but also as a useful promotional product for various industries and purposes. Cubic Promote Australia keeps this history and practicality in mind when providing companies with high-quality customised polo shirts, ensuring that your brand remains at the forefront of this timeless clothing item.
Polo shirt history first spotted here: http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-the-lacoste-polo-shirt-modernized-tennis-and-helped-shape-fashion/
