| Polo shirts and golf shirts, like custom t shirts and | | | | long-sleeved shirts made of thick Oxford cotton with |
| embroidered shirts, are favorite uniforms and | | | | a button-down collar. Ironically, the tennis shirt soon |
| promotional items in Tampa FL. But do you know | | | | came to be better known as the polo shirt. This |
| how they came to be? | | | | name was further popularized when American |
| Acually, polo shirts and golf shirts are almost identical. | | | | designer Ralph Lauren launched his Polo brand which |
| They are also sometimes called tennis shirts. | | | | also featured shirts of the same design but this time |
| Obviously, this is because they were, and still are, | | | | sporting an emblem of a polo player on the left |
| used by players of these sports around the world | | | | breast. |
| and here in Tampa FL. The same articles of clothing | | | | Golf wear followed the path taken by tennis wear |
| are also often referred to simply as t-shirts, or even | | | | and polo garb. Golf players also took to wearing what |
| tee shirts. The former may be because they are | | | | was already being called the polo shirt. What became |
| often made of the same material as collarless t-shirts, | | | | known as the golf shirt, however, had a slight |
| and the latter may be slang or a reference to golf | | | | variation in design. Whereas the polo shirt usually had |
| shirts. In any case, all of them are very popular as | | | | a soft collar made of one-ply ribbed knit cotton, the |
| casual wear in Tampa FL. They are so popular, in | | | | golf shirt had a stitched collar made of a double-layer |
| fact, that there are many wholesale t shirt suppliers | | | | of the same fabric as the shirt’s body, often |
| in Tampa FL. | | | | mercerized cotton, polyester, or a cotton and |
| What we call polo shirts or golf shirts today are short | | | | polyester blend. The golf shirt also had a longer |
| sleeved pullovers with a soft collar and buttons at | | | | neckline plaque with three to four buttons whereas |
| the neck opening. They often come in cotton knit | | | | the polo shirt usually had only two to three. |
| material but also in several blends of soft materials. | | | | Since then, the polo shirt and golf shirt have evolved |
| The first such shirt was designed by the French | | | | into many minor variations but have retained their |
| tennis champion Rene Lacoste in 1926 for the US | | | | basic features. They are now commonly worn as |
| Open championship. Previously, tennis players wore | | | | casual wear by men and women alike, and are even |
| white long sleeved button-up shirts with ties and | | | | deemed acceptable as “business casual” |
| flannel trousers on the court, merely rolling up their | | | | wear for more informal industries. In fact, they are |
| sleeves to play. Lacoste’s shirt was much more | | | | even being used as uniforms in many technical firms, |
| comfortable and quickly became popular. By 1927, he | | | | retail firms, hotels and resorts, health centers, as well |
| added the crocodile emblem on the left breast of the | | | | as schools. |
| shirt to acknowledge the nickname | | | | When polo shirts or golf shirts are used as uniforms |
| “Crocodile” which the US press gave him. | | | | or promotional items, they often include embroidery |
| After Lacoste retired from professional tennis in | | | | of the company, school or organization’s logo or |
| 1933, he began to mass produce and market his | | | | emblem. Companies that supply wholesale t shirts |
| shirts under the Lacoste brand. | | | | often supply polo shirts and golf shirts, as well as |
| When Lacoste’s tennis shirt became popular, | | | | embroidered shirts and custom t shirts, in Tampa FL. |
| polo players started to wear it for their sport, too. | | | | It looks like these articles of clothing are here to |
| Before then, polo players traditionally wore | | | | stay. |