He designed a garment that was practical enough for tennis but also elegant enough to be worn off the court, which was adopted by movie stars, football fans and representatives of many music scenes.
The brand Fred Perry celebrates 70 years of the emblematic polo shirt in a new exhibition to be inaugurated on June 10 at the Design Museum (Design Museum) one of the top places in the world dedicated to modern architecture and design.
In the exhibition Fred Perry: A British Icon will present stories from the company’s principles as a brand of sportswear for tennis to its modern designs.
Visitors will also be able to discover how the cultural significance of the Fred Perry polo shirt evolved and how it has expanded through its musical links with Amy Winehouseτους Gorillaz and The Specials and the designers him Charles Jeffrey of LOVERBOY and Raf Simons.
The exhibition highlights the company’s origins in Britain in the 1950s through archival material and early original designs and how its founder, three-time Wimbledon champion Fred Perry affected the character of the brand.
Fred Perry designed it first polo pike shirt for tennis in 1952 with emphasis on lightweight fabric and its functionality. He designed a garment that was practical enough for tennis but also elegant enough to be worn off the court, which was adopted by movie stars, football fans and representatives of many music scenes and became a part of British clothing chosen by different subcultures.
Fred Perry fans will be able to browse the exhibition free of charge at the Design Museum Huth Gallery from June 10 to 19.
