Focus on Polo Shirts The humble polo shirt
SOL’S has added creamy blue and creamy pink to its collection in response to retail trends
It is thought that the polo shirt first made its appearance in Britain towards the end of the 19th century when outdoor activities became more prevalent. Here P&P takes a look at the origin of the polo shirt and what styles are currently popular in the printwear market.
W
ho would have thought that the polo shirt first landed on British soil along with jodhpur pants and the game of polo in the 1800s? The two garments were brought back from India by the British as the attire of choice for horse-related sports. A style similar to the shirt worn by polo players was first worn on the tennis court by René Lacoste at the 1926 US Open Tennis
Embroider the humble polo shirt A
ccording to Wilcom, embroidery is the premium decoration service in the golf apparel industry, and still the number one choice for decorators to personalise the humble polo shirt.
● Be careful of stripes or garment panels that may affect the visibility of the logo or text. Preview your garment while digitising with tools such as the Wilcom EmbroideryStudioʼs ʻShow Productʼ feature.
When digitising a design for a polo shirt, remember:
Championship. He designed a white, short-sleeved, loosely-knit piqué cotton shirt with an unstarched, flat, protruding collar, a buttoned placket and a shirt-tail longer in the back than in front. So, itʼs Lacoste we have to thank for the polo shirt that is known and loved today. Kustom Kitʼs product manager Clare Dwyer says that the first major innovation since the polo shirtʼs inception was the introduction of a pique knit, which in comparison to the starch cotton that was previously used, provided increased movement, breathability and durability.
She adds: “Fabric innovation and retail-inspired fits continue to keep this classic style relevant for todayʼs consumer.”
● Stitch density, underlay and pull compensation are some of the most important elements to consider when digitising. These settings will vary depending on the polo fabric and will determine the quality of the design. Though, a general rule is tight densities, especially on performance wear fabrics.
● Like caps, digitise from the centre-out to minimum stretch and puckering.
● Chest logo positioning should centre around the last button on a standard placket.
● Horizontal text in your logo should align to the polo pocket. Following tips like these will improve the quality of your polo designs, and improve the efficiency of your production.
| 26 | February 2019
A shift in use A further shift was seen in the 1990s that made the polo shirt a firm favourite for informal business wear. Sharon Bell, brand manager for Just Polos by AWDis, says: “In this environment, the polo shift was often part of a uniform as companies began to recognise the benefits of branding a classic polo shirt with their own name and logo.”
Moving forward to 2019 what styles are currently popular and why?
Laura Vesalainen, international project marketing manager at
SOLʼS, says: “In terms of trends at the moment smaller collars and fitted polo shirts are in fashion. Also polo shirts with specific details such as stripes are on-trend because they bring more style to the polo shirt.”
Sharon agrees, which is why Just Polos has added the JP002 Stretch Piqué Polo Shirt to its collection. The menʼs version offers a modern stylish fit, while the ladies version offers a flattering feminine fit. This stretch polo is an ideal blank canvas for print or embroidery.
As with every type of garment, changes and evolution are
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