BOOK REPORT | RALPH LAUREN’S POLO SHIRT By Ralph Lauren | 2022 OCTOBER

The definition of a polo shirt is a form of shirt with a collar, a placket neckline, two or three buttons, with an optional pocket. Polo shirts are usually in short sleeves. They were used by polo players originally in India in 1859 and the British picked it up in 1920s.

The material used are usually in knitted cotton, it can be an interlock knit, or a piqué knit.

In 1967, Ralph Lauren named his company after the sport polo. Since then the name has been used on the label hand-sewn into the back of each product. Polo is a kind of sport, relating to the equestrian, an upper-crust society’s sport.

The polo shirt is an American cultural symbol, it is chic casual, worn by everyone you name it—movie stars, presidents, athletes, artists, celebrities—you name it and everyone is wearing it.

It is so casual and can be worn with the collar popped up, open and untucked, or can be dressed up under a suit jacket. In Ralph Lauren’s words, “It’s honest and from the heart and hopefully that is what touches the diversity of all who wear it. It was never about a shirt, but a way of living.”

Ralph invented the polo shirt in 1972, exactly fifty years ago today. He made it out of cotton, and in many colors, in order that the colors may fade and have an authentic look. The pony logo reminded the name he gave to his company a few years before. It also helps to make the polo shirt more fashionable and becoming sporty. The polo shirt has become an icon.

Ralph Lauren designs the way people live. He likes to tell how the people live and he is using the polo shirt to tell the stories of the individuals. He singled out equestrian, military, destination, nautical, sports, outdoor, university, prints, philanthropy, and hall of fame. It is such a wide spectrum.  

Earlier on Ralph Lauren introduced the Polo Bear in 1991. It was inspired by the Steiff toy bear, and year-after-year, Polo Bear Shirt has gained the recognition. 

It is heartening to read that Polo did the Polo for Pups since 2003. It extended the polo shirt to men’s best friends with the same handling of quality and maximum comfort, with embroidery of the logo on the left-side of the collar. In 2016, celebration of National Dog Day, Ralph Lauren introduced ten new embroidered dog logos—a corgi, French bulldog, and a poodle. This resulted a total breeds of up to twenty to customize the Polo for Pups. 

We also come to know that the Classic Polo Pony takes 1,100 stitches to produce, and it was introduced in 1971. The Big Polo Pony takes 9,700 stitches and was introduced in 2005.

After 50 years in the market, it is classic and you can wear it anywhere. It s also considered as the Spirit of America. I must say that, “Ralph, you did a great job, kudos to you!”