Almost everywhere you look in Tampa, you will spot people wearing the ever popular embroidered polo shirts, which others also call golf shirts or tee shirts. They are favourites as day to day casual t-shirts of men, women and children alike. They are also widely used as uniforms for companies, institutions and schools. Because of their popularity, the same companies often use embroidered polo shirts as promotional items, too. It is not surprising, therefore, that wholesale custom t shirts as well as embroidery services for t-shirts are also widely available in Tampa FL. But how did this phenomenon of embroidered polo shirts develop before they reached Tampa FL?

The term “polo shirt” is traceable to the game called polo which began in the 7th century in Persia. It was later brought to Great Britain by way of India. Interestingly, the word “polo” came from a Tibetan word “pulu” naming the wooden ball that is the focal point of the game.

In the early days, polo players wore long sleeved white button down collared shirts and white trousers, both made of cotton. In 1920, an Irish haberdasher based in Buenos Aires, named Lewis Lacey, added the embroidered figure of a polo player to his shirts. He was also a polo player with the Hurlingham Polo Club.

Similar long sleeved white button down collared shirts and white trousers in cotton, with the addition of white ties, were also worn by tennis players in the early days. They just rolled up their sleeves while playing a match.

This changed in 1926 when Rene Lacoste, a French tennis player who was a seven time Grand Slam champion, designed his own tennis shirt. He used the very breathable material of knitted cotton pique to make a t-shirt with a soft flat collar, a buttoned placket, short cuffed sleeves and a longer back tail that stayed tucked in his trousers or shorts even during the rigorous movements of a match. The main focus of Lacoste was comfort and practicality. He added the embroidered crocodile on the left breast of his tennis shirts in 1927.

In 1933, Lacoste retired from playing tennis and decided to direct his efforts toward the mass manufacture and marketing of his tennis shirts. They quickly became popular not only as sports wear but even as casual wear throughout the world. Interestingly, Lacoste’s tennis shirts became more widely known as “polo shirts.” Eventually, they were adapted by golfers, as well, creating the new term “golf shirts.”

Perhaps another reason why the term “polo shirt” still prevails over “tennis shirt” or “golf shirt” is because well known American clothes designer Ralph Lauren called one of his clothing lines “Polo” and it is actually dominated by his version of the “polo shirt.” This looks very much like the Lacoste shirt except that it features the figure of a polo player instead of a crocodile.

These days there are myriad versions of the polo shirt, tennis shirt or golf shirt produced by various manufacturers. Basically, they are short sleeved t-shirts which feature a soft collar with two or three buttons in front. A placket may or may not be included and a zipper sometimes replaces the buttons. For golf shirts, the sleeves are not cuffed. Pockets are sometimes added. Most versions still use knitted cotton pique but there are also shirts made from synthetic blends, merino wool or silk.

From this long history, the now ubiquitous embroidered polo shirts or golf shirts reached Tampa FL and the rest of the world. They will definitely remain as staples in people’s wardrobes in many parts of the globe.