Iconic, American and a classic wardrobe staple, the polo shirt has become a pillar of comfortable, stylish fashion. Reproduced the world over, this timeless article has come a long way from its original sporting beginnings.

Despite what the name suggests, the polo shirt as we know it did not first emerge on the polo field. The iconic shirt made its debut appearance in the 1926 US Grand Slam, sported by Rene Lacoste. The 7 times Grand Slam champion, known as ‘the Crocodile,’ was fed up with the stuffy, restricting tennis attire of the times and set about creating an alternative. He designed a short-sleeved, breathable pique cotton shirt. Lacoste’s new tennis top had thoughtful details, ensuring comfort, wear ability and style. The stiff collar protected his neck from the sun and the longer shirttail meant it would stay tucked in.

Tennis players weren’t the only athletes disgruntled with their apparel options. Polo players had been taking the field in long-sleeved, thick oxford cotton shirts since the 1800s. They received some respite when John Brooks, of Brooks Brothers fame, suggested buttons down the front would keep the collars from flapping in the wind; but the outfit remained far from comfortable.

It didn’t take long for the story of Lacoste’s new-style tennis shirt to make the rounds and in the early 1930s the polo players gave it a go. After that, they were hooked. The shirt quickly became standard garb on the polo field. Over the next several decades, the term ‘polo shirt’ and Lacoste’s tennis shirt became synonymous.

After retiring from tennis in 1933, Rene Lacoste formed Chemise Lacoste, a luxury sportswear company. They began mass-marketing the polo shirts in France and North America and the tennis shirt, along with the crocodile logo, soon had a stronghold on the sporting world.

In 1972, a young Ralph Lauren took the shirt from the sporting arena and brought it to the masses. His fledging clothing line, Polo, introduced a version of the shirt in 24 different colours and the humble polo shirt soon became one of the pillars of men’s fashion.

These days, the style has become so popular it is its own category of clothing, seen in school uniforms, semi-professional business attire, outdoor work attire, and everyday use. Hundreds of clothing companies have created their own version of polo shirts as it had proven to be a timeless and essential wardrobe staple.

More than eight decades since it first took the court on the back of Rene Lacoste, the polo shirt and its myriad of modern translations still holds true to its pedigree: a comfortable, wearable and stylish shirt that anyone can wear.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.