The rugby polo shirt: from the pitch to the city
Great Britain, late 19th century. Rugby was gradually gaining popularity, especially among elite universities like Cambridge and Oxford.
Originally, players' jerseys were made from coarse wool—far from comfortable against the skin. Over time, they evolved into shirts made from thick cotton jersey, a fabric both softer and more resistant to the physical contact and friction typical of the sport.
Colorful stripes were introduced to help distinguish teams, while the white contrasting collar became a defining feature of the rugby polo shirt—both to differentiate it from other sportswear and to make players more visible, whether to the spectators in the stands or to the referee.
By the mid-20th century, the rugby polo shirt began to move beyond the playing field. It was notably adopted by Ivy League students, who, seeking a more relaxed, less formal dress code, appreciated this
garment for its laid-back feel that still retained a touch of elegance thanks to its classic polo collar.
A fun fact for your next dinner party: legend has it that a deal was struck whereby football teams would wear vertical stripes, while rugby teams would stick to horizontal ones.
Good for you, and also good for the planet
This polo shirt is made of cotton—but not just any cotton: 100% of its fiber comes from regenerative agriculture.
What does that mean? It’s a new way of growing cotton that mimics natural ecosystems, with the goal of restoring soil health and having a positive impact on the land, rather than depleting it.
It’s a slower, more thoughtful approach to cotton farming, involving practices such as:
- Minimizing soil disturbance
- Planting cover crops between harvests to protect the soil
- Integrating livestock—often absent in industrial farming—so their natural fertilization reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides
The result? A cotton that’s kinder to the environment and to the people who grow it, featured here in a compact jersey that’s soft and supple, paying tribute to the heritage of traditional rugby polo shirts that inspired this piece.
