10 Mind Numbing Facts About Polo Uniforms
Did you know that the garment we call a polo shirt, sport shirt, or golf shirt actually originated on the tennis court? In 1929, French tennis champ René Lacoste created a short-sleeved piqué knit collared shirt with a buttoned placket. Soon, he added an embroidered crocodile - a symbol of his tenacity on the court - to the left chest area. The shirt caught on among polo players, through 1950, "polo shirt" was the garment's accepted name. The embroidery tradition has lived on also. Since polo shirts are popular on the golf course, in the board room, and around town, many businesses put their logo on the shirts and give them to employees and clients.
Deciding on a polo shirt for your company logo may be kind of overwhelming, especially if you are not particularly fashion-conscious. Here are the top 5 features to pay attention to when making your selection.
The original polo shirts were 100% cotton, and that fabric is still really popular - especially premium cottons like Tangüis and Pima. These are particular varieties of cotton noted for their quality, softness, and durability. Cotton/poly blends are usually popular, because the fabric is wrinkle-resistant and less prone to shrink. Some go for 100% polyester, because of the sturdiness of the fabric when washed over and over again, and as a result of moisture-wicking properties which make it great in sweaty situations. Eventually, you might prefer an exotic or unusual fabric like bamboo or eco-friendly choices like recycled polyester and organic cotton.
Fabric content is simply half the equation, however. The texture of the fabric determines its look and feel. Jersey is a casual, affordable choice. The exact same sort of fabric used for T-shirts, it really is great for screen printing or embroidery. Similar to jersey, interlock fabric is double-knit, making it thicker and smoother. Piqué will be the original polo shirt fabric; if you look-at it closely, you will see that it has a waffle-weave texture. Interesting tonal effects can be achieved with jacquard fabric, which looks and feels glamorous. Eventually, mesh fabric is popular for athletic settings, since the space between the fibers allows the garment to breathe.
The term "performance fabric" refers to a fabric which has been designed to provide practical benefits to the wearer. They make the knowledge of wearing the garment more pleasant and convenient. Moisture-wicking or moisture-management polo shirts pull sweat away from the human body and promote evaporation. They keep the wearer cool and dry, and also are highly desired by golfers and hard-working employees. Where there is sweat, there may be odor, so anti-microbial features are essential to curb the expansion of smelly bacteria. Stain-resistant fabric is a must in the event the polo shirt will be worn in a restaurant or hospital. Teflon and Scotchgard are popular fabric treatment methods that produce spills simpler to clean. Snag-resistant fabrics help keep the sport shirt looking new for quite a while, and are suggested for just about any heavy-duty use.
It's possible to put your logo on a polo shirt with a recognizable brand name like Adidas, Champion, Nike, and so on. Individuals you give a brand-name polo to will see the brand and know they've gotten a high-quality garment. There is just one possible downside to a brand-name sport shirt, however: the manufacturer's logo, like the Adidas stripes or Nike swoosh, may appear prominently on the shirt and can take attention away through your logo. Another option is private label polo shirts. These garments are manufactured specifically for embroidery as well as other logo decoration. You might not know the names from retail stores, but the quality and value may be excellent.
Usually, polo shirts are one color from top to bottom - to put it differently, they can be solid color sport shirts. Another option, which is favored in athletic settings, will be the color block polo uniforms shirt. This garment combines different colors within different areas of the shirt. One example is the front and back of the shirt might be grey, and the side panels could possibly be black. There can be stylish color panels on the sleeves or chest. Universities love color-block polos because they can choose a shirt that combines their school colors. Another color consideration is tipping. A tipped polo includes narrow borders on the collar and sleeve hems. Piping is similar, but it highlights the seams of the garment.
Last but certainly not least, look at the decoration method used to apply your logo to the polo shirt. Embroidery on the left-chest area will be the traditional option, going all the long ago to Lacoste's original crocodile. The advantages of embroidery include durability and also a polished, classy look. If you're going for a less traditional look, other spots for your logo include the upper back or the sleeve. Bear in mind, embroidery is not the only way. You might choose screen printing if the polo's fabric is smooth, like jersey or interlock. New sport shirt decorating trends include laser etching, which essentially "burns" the surface of the fabric to create a tone-on-tone design, and heat seals.
