Many customers ask this question about the difference between T-shirts and Polo shirts. They think there is a big difference between the two. They worry about making mistakes when customizing products. In fact, the difference between the two is very small, even in many cases, it is just a different name. Based on our company’s years of experience in customizing t-shirts and polo shirts for customers, I will organize them as follows and summarize the differences between T-shirts and polo shirts.
Difference In Concept
T-shirt is also known as open-neck t-shirt. Its English name is T-shirt, which is a common name. It includes round neck T-shirts, V-neck T-shirts, lapel T-shirts, and fashionable color-contrasting T-shirts. The styles are ever-changing and unrestrained. It can be fashionable, formal, plain and personalized. Among them, the round neck T-shirt is also commonly known as cultural shirts, advertising shirts and other names, so it is the most active category of summer clothing.
Compared with T-shirts, Polo shirts have a much narrower range, generally referring to specific styles of lapel and open collars. Because the world’s international brand “POLO” shirt is very famous, it derived a name-POLO shirt. Round neck style shirts are generally rarely called POLO shirts, but generally called T-shirts.
(The left is a T-shirt; the right is a POLO shirt and it can also be called a T-shirt.)
Difference In Historical Origin
According to records, T-shirts first appeared in ancient Rome. In the Hard Rock Cafe in ancient Rome, there is a T-shirt worn by Caesar. The real history of modern T-shirts is less than 100 years. T-shirt is the transliterated name of “T-shirt”, and the initials of “T” are retained in English. Regardless of its origin, the word T-shirt really appeared in the 1920s, when Weber’s dictionary first included the word.
Polo shirts originated in the early 19th century. Originally called a jersey shirt (also synonymous with sports shirt), it is used for football, rowing and other sports apparel. Later, American entrepreneur Ralph Lauren introduced Ralph Lauren POLO. Its Chinese abbreviation is “Lauren Love Paul”. Because of its popularity all over the world, people call this business casual cardigan “POLO shirt”. Since then, more and more people use this name.
Of course, nowadays there are some styles without buttons, and long-sleeved polo shirts are also called polo shirts, but in general, buttonless and long-sleeved polo shirts evolved from short-sleeved buttoned polo shirts. To a large extent, these two variants emulate certain aspects of golf clothing.
Difference In Collar Type
The structural design of the T-shirt is stylish and complex, with a wide variety of patterns. Style changes are usually reflected in the neckline, hem, cuffs, colors, patterns, fabrics and collision shapes. The biggest difference between them is the collar. Generally speaking, the collar of a T-shirt is round, while the collar of a POLO shirt is in the shape of a lapel. As the picture shows:
Difference In Hem Technology
There is a big difference between the hem of a T-shirt and a POLO shirt. T-shirts are usually locked directly; POLO shirts are usually slit on both sides. The length of the slits is generally about 5 cm. The length of the back is longer than the front. 3-5 cm. This is a unique style of POLO shirts. As the picture shows:
Difference In Style
The style of T-shirts is complex and changeable, focusing on fashion, leisure, unrestrained, random color matching, and color collision changes. Compared with T-shirts, POLO shirts are simple, formal, and solemn in style. T-shirts usually have a variety of different colors of cloth cutting, color collision, or color printing of different patterns, while POLO shirts are generally single, classic and dignified. As the picture shows:
(Left is a lapel T-shirt, right is a POLO shirt)
Difference In Fabric Patterns
The fabrics of T-shirts and POLO shirts are not much different, but they are different from the two popular styles on the market. The fabrics of T-shirts are mainly plain weave, while the fabrics of POLO shirts are mainly classic pique mesh fabrics. These are also two different styles. The plain fabric is comfortable, soft, and drooping, and the piqué mesh fabric has a stronger three-dimensional effect, and it is more spiritual and dignified to wear. As the picture shows:
(The plain cloth on the left is mostly used for T-shirts, and the piqué on the right is mostly used for POLO shirts)
Difference In Matching Styles
The style of the POLO shirt is solemn, formal and professional, while the T-shirt is casual, fashionable and avant-garde. As the picture shows:
