Polo has often been called “the sport of kings”, but its impact goes far beyond the field. Born over two millennia ago and once used to train cavalry, polo has evolved into a global emblem of heritage, elegance, and adventure. Today, its influence can be spotted in everything from runway collections to everyday accessories, representing a seamless fusion of rugged practicality and refined style.

A heritage steeped in prestige

The earliest recorded polo matches date back to the 6th century BCE in Persia. Teams sometimes numbered over 100 riders per side; it appeared to be more of a war game than a sport. By the late 19th century, British tea planters in India brought polo to the West, where it quickly captivated the aristocracy.

Polo spread so rapidly that by 1900 it was part of the Paris Olympics, attracting players from Argentina, Britain, and the US.

For brands, these roots in military skill, colonial travel, and upper-class leisure created a ready-made identity: sophisticated, adventurous, and cosmopolitan.

Design influences born from function

The Polo sport's demands— galloping at 35mph, swinging a 4-foot mallet, and pivoting in seconds drove innovations that shaped modern style:

• the polo shirt’s longer back hem, or “tennis tail”, was originally to keep shirts tucked in while riding. René Lacoste borrowed the idea for tennis wear in the 1920s.

• reinforced stitching on trousers and leather knee patches originated in polo gear for durability, now echoed in riding jeans and field jackets.

• the numbered team jerseys now seen in casual wear stem from polo, where numbers 1–4 denote a player’s position and role on the field.

• the famous faja pampa (pampa belt) started as a way for Argentine gauchos and polo players to decorate the girths and straps of their horses with colourful, hand-woven thread patterns. Only later did these designs make their way onto Argentinian polo belts for people.

The colours and symbols of Polo

Image: a polo umpire wearing on the field with striped shirts

 

Polo teams needed high-contrast colours for visibility, leading to bold combinations like navy-and-white, red-and-black, or emerald-and-gold colour stories now embedded in brand identities.

The “polo stripe" wide bands of alternating colours remain a fashion staple, from silk ties to rug patterns.

Trivia nugget: In the 1920s, Argentinian polo players popularised embroidered crests on blazers, leading to their adoption in schools, yacht clubs, and even corporate logos.

Equestrian symbols, from crossed mallets to galloping horses, became shorthand for exclusivity. Ralph Lauren famously built an empire around a polo pony logo, even though he never played the sport: proof of the sport’s aspirational pull.

The birth of the Polo shirt

The “polo shirt” wasn’t originally invented for polo, but polo players popularised it.

• In the mid-19th century, British players in India swapped stiff collared shirts for soft cotton with button-down collars to stop flapping during play.

• This design caught the eye of American haberdasher John E. Brooks, who adapted it into Brooks Brothers’ button-down shirt in 1896— still a staple in smart-casual wardrobes today.

• Tennis legend René Lacoste later shortened the sleeves, creating the modern piqué knit polo shirt in 1926, a garment equally at home on the court, golf course, or city street.

A lifestyle beyond the game

Polo is as much about its surroundings as the matches: the clink of champagne glasses on manicured lawns, sunhats shading spectators, and weekend tournaments that feel like a step into another era.

• In Argentina, the Argentine Open in Palermo, Buenos Aires, draws over 40,000 spectators annually and is broadcast to more than 80 countries.

• In the UK, the Cartier Queen’s Cup sees royalty, celebrities, and business leaders mingling at Guards Polo Club, where a day pass can cost more than £100.
  

Why Polo leather became a fashion benchmark

Three key factors explain polo leather’s influence:

1. Performance-tested durability: if it can survive a match, it can survive city life.

2. Heritage appeal: equestrian gear carries connotations of tradition, skill, and prestige.

3. Timeless design language: clean lines, natural materials, and functional details rarely go out of style.

Modern interpretations

While the romantic image of polo remains, the sport has also evolved. Technical fabrics are replacing heavy cotton, gender-neutral uniforms are emerging, and streetwear brands are remixing polo motifs with urban aesthetics. Even high-fashion houses like Gucci and Dior have drawn on polo culture for recent collections, blending heritage with modern rebellion.

The belt connection & pampeano's polo origins

The polo belt, as we know it, is a direct descendant of saddle and girth straps:

• flat profiles avoid snagging

• strong buckles resist strain

• decorative stitching and braiding came from reins and stirrup leathers, blending function with flair

In Argentina, hand-embroidered “pampa” patterns originally used to decorate horse gear migrated to belts, becoming a global fashion trend. These patterns symbolise the Pampas landscape and carry cultural heritage into everyday wear.

pampeano— meaning “from La Pampa” in Spanish— was born in the beating heart of Argentina’s polo country. La Pampa is home to vast grasslands, estancias, and some of the world’s finest polo ponies. This is where the sport isn’t just a weekend pastime, but part of daily life, woven into the culture alongside horsemanship, leatherwork, and hospitality.

The demands of the sport shaped pampeano’s design principles: maintaining the highest standards of quality and delivering exceptional craftsmanship.

Image: pampeano's colourful belts handstitched

 

By blending this authentic sporting heritage with contemporary styling, pampeano bridges two worlds: the dust and sun of the Argentine polo fields, and the polished elegance of everyday wear.

Closing thought

Polo’s design language, including the clean lines of a tailored shirt, the confidence of bold colour-blocking, and the elegance of a well-placed crest, has transcended the sport. It has become part of the world’s style vocabulary, influencing brands from luxury leather makers to athletic wear giants. And all of it can be traced back to a game where speed, skill, and style share the same saddle.