The polo shirt has been around for a long time, rising and falling in popularity as trends change.
Custom polo shirts with logo embroidery are common work uniforms and are equally at home on the golf course.
As you consider your promotional products for 2020, take a look at the different styles of polo shirts available for use at home, work, and play.
The Origins of the Polo Shirt
Polo shirts have come a long way since their origins in the 19th century when polo was popular among the British upper class. Polo players wanted a shirt with enough mobility to let them play the game, but also wanted a wardrobe that reminded everyone they were at the top of the social echelon. They settled on the polo shirt.
As time passed, the popularity of polo waned, but the polo shirt remained a social status symbol. The shirt found new life as the unofficial wardrobe of an equally prestigious sport: golf. From the greens, it was just a matter of time before men’s business polo shirts became part of management’s casual wear.
More recently, the polo shirt has become a popular work uniform, allowing employers to outfit their staff comfortably without sacrificing professional appearance.
Polo Shirts in 2020: Polyester Fatigue
Polo shirts have, for the last few decades, been made predominantly from woven polyester. Fast-drying and durable polyester gives a polo shirt a synthetic feel, which wearers often find uncomfortable. Today, cotton/polyester blends are coming into vogue for polo shirts, which provide more comfort through cotton’s breathability and durability.
Plaiting is another option that’s becoming popular for polo shirts. With plaiting, cotton yarn is spun on the inside of the fabric, while polyester is spun on the outside.
Different Types of Polo Shirts
Polo shirts are seen so often, it’s easy to forget they come in more than one style. In actuality, there are several different types of polo shirts, including:
- Short sleeve polos or “classic” polos, like Trimark’s Men's Next Short Sleeve Polo.
- Golf polos are made from performance fabrics for extra stretch and moisture-wicking abilities, like Puma’s Men’s Icon Golf Polo.
- Long sleeve polos such as the Harrison Easy Blend Long-Sleeve Polo offer more coverage and warmth in cool climates.
- Piqué Polos (pronounced pee-kay) are made from piqué fabric, a blend of cotton and rayon or silk, such as the Ultra Club’s Men's Classic Piqué Polo.
- Rugby shirts are heavier, durable long sleeve polos. Like the Charles River Classic Rugby Shirt, they typically have broad horizontal stripes.
- Lightweight polos made from high-quality Pima cotton are closer in feel to a t-shirt than a polo shirt. The Classic Men’s Pima Shirt-Sleeve Polo from Devon & Jones is a good example.
Men’s and Women’s Polo Shirts
It’s common to think of polo shirts as unisex, and indeed there are plenty of polo shirts designed for use by either sex. However, men’s business polo shirts don’t sit quite right on a woman’s body. They also don’t feel as comfortable as they do on a man.
The solution is simple enough. If you’re buying polos as work shirts for both sexes, look for custom polo shirts made for both women and men rather than just ordering unisex or male styles.
A woman’s polo shirt typically has the following characteristics:
- narrower shoulder areas than for men,
- wider chests,
- shorter shirt length,
- short sleeve length, and
- a curved bodice with flares at the bottom.
A woman’s polo shirt may or may not have buttons. If the shirt does, the buttons are on the left of the shirt, the opposite of a man’s shirt. Examples of women’s polo shirts include:
Custom Polo Shirts with Logos
Whether they’re golf shirts, men’s business polo shirts, or rugby shirts, custom polo shirts with logos are a classy way to improve your brand recognition. In addition to making smart work uniforms, custom polo shirts make thoughtful gifts for golfers, business partners, and customers. And if you happen to be fielding a polo team, they’re essential!
Need more information about important 2020 promotional item trends? Check out our 2020 trend list.