Why Everything You Know About Polo Shirts Is A Lie
Did you realize 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 course, within the board room, and around town, many businesses put their logo on the shirts and provide them to employees and clients.
Selecting a polo shirt for your company logo can be sort of overwhelming, especially for anyone who is 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 very popular - especially premium cottons like Tangüis and Pima. These are particular varieties of cotton noted for their quality, softness, and durability. Cotton/poly blends will also be popular, since the fabric is wrinkle-resistant and less very likely to shrink. Some go for 100% polyester, as a result of the sturdiness of the fabric when washed over and over again, and because of moisture-wicking properties that produce it great in sweaty situations. Lastly, you could prefer an exotic or unusual fabric like bamboo or eco-friendly choices like recycled polyester and organic cotton.
Fabric content is just half the equation, however. The texture of the fabric determines its look and feel. Jersey is a casual, low-cost choice. The same sort of fabric utilized 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 is the original polo shirt fabric; if you look at it closely, you will see which it has a waffle-weave texture. Interesting tonal effects can be achieved with jacquard fabric, which looks and feels lavish. Lastly, mesh fabric is popular for athletic settings, because the space between the fibers allows the garment to breathe.
The term "performance fabric" refers to a fabric that 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 one's body and promote evaporation. They keep the wearer cool and dry, and are highly desired by golfers and hard-working employees. Where there's sweat, there may be odor, so anti-microbial features are essential to curb the growth of smelly bacteria. Stain-resistant fabric is a must if the polo shirt will be worn in a restaurant or hospital. Teflon and Scotchgard are popular fabric treatment methods that make spills easier to clean. Snag-resistant fabrics help keep the sport shirt looking new for quite a while, and are suggested for virtually every 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. People you give a brand-name polo to shall see the brand and know they have gotten a high-quality garment. There is 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 might take attention away from your logo. The additional option is private label polo shirts. These garments are manufactured specifically for embroidery and other logo decoration. You could not know the names from retail stores, though the quality and value may be excellent.
Most of the time, polo shirts are one color from top to bottom - in other words, they may be solid color sport shirts. Another option, which is favored in athletic settings, is the color block polo shirt. This garment combines different colors in different areas of the shirt. By way of example, the front and back of the shirt could be grey, and the side panels could be black. There can be stylish color panels on the sleeves or chest. Universities love color-block polos since 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, think about 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 of the way back to Lacoste's original crocodile. The advantages of embroidery include durability and a polished, classy look. If you are going for a less traditional look, other spots for your logo include the upper back or even the sleeve. Bear in mind, embroidery isn't the only way. You might choose screen printing should the polo company shirts'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.
