How tennis and polo shirts came about

When someone says a polo shirt or a golf shirt, he or she would be referring to a tennis shirt. This type of t-shirt comes with a collar, a few buttons in the front slit and two side slits on the bottom. It may or may not have a pocket. The most commonly used knitted material to make a tennis shirt is pique cotton. Sometimes silk, merino wool or synthetic fibers are used.

Between the nineteenth and early twentieth century, tennis players had a tough time playing their games as a result of poor design of their attire. In those days, they had to wear long-sleeved shirts, trousers and even ties to the tennis court. These formal cloths were akin to what the white collars of today wear to work and were simply too heavy and cumbersome for professional playing. Therefore, a French tennis player called Rene Lacoste decided to start his own line of tennis shirts named after himself, Lacoste. The 7-time Grand Slam tennis champion came up with a loosely-knitted un-starched pique cotton tennis shirt with a collar and longer shirt-tail at the back. The collar is thicker so that it could be upturned and provide the neck protection from the sun while playing. Actually, before Lacoste invented the revolutionary tennis shirt in 1929, polo shirts already had the button-down collar design since the late nineteenth century. While this design was able to prevent the wind from flapping the collars against the players’ neck, the long-sleeved polo shirts which were made of Oxford-cloth cotton were clumsy to wear on the field. As a result, Lacoste’s tennis shirts were promptly taken on by the polo players as their apparel in the 1930s.

Soon, the polo shirt and tennis shirt were considered the one and the same. In the US, the two terms were very commonly used interchangeably in the 1950s to describe this very popular apparel. It was so popular that the tennis players openly refer to their shirt as a “polo shirt”, even though the t-shirt was first used in tennis and even though polo only adopted it many years later.

Then Ralph Lauren started a new line of polo shirts and incorporated it into his existing collection called Polo, in 1967. As a result, polo shirts became even more popular. Lauren’s polo shirts were not really designed for the game, but its design was similar to what the polo players were wearing at that time.

Before long, golfers became aware of the advantages of Lacoste’s tennis shirt. As a result, when golf’s customary wear grew more relaxed and informal some time in the twentieth century, golfers did not think twice about adopting the tennis shirt. Until today, most golfers wear nothing else. For the ladies, they can have their tennis shirt custom made in colors that they like. The only difference is that the monicker “golf shirts” have various golf cuts necessary to incorporate into the standard tennis shirts. Today, the tennis shirt’s popularity is so widespread that it has a line of fashion of its own. Most of the main clothing producers have a version or variation of Lacoste’s tennis shirt since it is worn extensively by both men and women today and not necessarily for athletic purposes. Tennis shirts are regarded as smart casual wear. Many semi-professional and retail workers wear tennis shirts to work because round collar t-shirts are considered too informal and yet business suits are too formal.

Its rough and ready style also makes it a favored shirt for those working outdoors, such as field guides and labourers. During the 1990s, the tennis shirt became the standard business informal/casual attire for the high tech industry and then spread to other industries. Company logos are often printed on these tennis shirts to be used as custom corporate apparel. Some government officials in India wear tennis shirts as standard work attire.

Tennis shirts are well-accepted by many schools, especially junior schools. In fact, they are made into compulsory uniform for both boys and girls. Tennis shirts are also readily embraced by sportsmen. Officials such as caddies, ex-golfers, referees and sports announcers love to wear tennis shirts to work. Being closely linked to the outdoor nature of sports, tennis shirts are printed in assorted light colors. In tennis, the color most often used is white.

Like in the original Lacoste’s design, sometimes a tennis shirt is cut so that the back hangs a few centimeters lower than the front also known as a "tennis tail". The longer tail is meant to keep the shirt tucked into the back of a man's tennis shorts when he is bent over to survey the court. The easily-upturnable collar remains another athletic aid to protect against sun burns.

As time passes, fashion continues to change. But no matter how the industry evolves, the tennis shirt or polo shirt will still have its own place in the fashion world.

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

Jay Pow has over 21 years of experience in the embroidery and imprinting industry covering a wide range of embroidering products from corporate apparel, sling backpacks, computer backpacks, polo shirts, ladies apparel, tote bags and so on. He is a regular consultant for MyLogoImprinted.com by offering his expertise on the quality and processes of the various imprinting of promotional products such as corporate apparels, school backpacks, computer backpacks, polo shirts, ladies apparel, wholesale tote bag and so on. Please visit the website for more information.

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