Fred Perry page 5 of 6

Fred designed his first pique tennis shirt in 1952. With a focus on lightweight functionality, he wanted to design something that was practical enough for tennis, but stylish enough to wear off-court. The Fred Perry Shirt became part of the British subcultural uniform, first adopted by the ‘60s mods for being casual enough for the day and smart enough to wear all night. What inspired Fred went on to inspire a generation of tennis players, rebels, musicians, creatives and full-circle back to sports stars. A true piece of subcultural uniform, it was this tennis shirt that took the brand from sportswear to streetwear. The shirt you can recognise from across any room, dancefloor or football stadium, by the Laurel Wreath embroidery on its chest. The Laurel Wreath remains a signature of both individuality and of belonging, from elite sports players to fringe subcultures.