Original Penguin Clothing Story

The Heritage of a Classic: Original Penguin by Munsingwear

He is one of the most iconic images in golf clothing and in the men’s fashion industry. He has been seen on some top class and trendy golfers such as Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus – along with worldwide fashion icons like Frank Sinatra and Clint Eastwood. In 1955, he was just a stuffed little penguin living in Manhattan and knew nothing of the journey he was soon to be headed. He is the Original Penguin – and his name is Pete.

Original Penguin by Munsingwear came to life in 1955. As the story goes, one of the salesmen for Munsingwear was sent on a business trip from Minneapolis to New York City but found himself in a local bar with time to kill. Abbot Pederson lost his bearings after leaving the pub and eventually stumbled across a display of stuffed penguins in a shop window. Deciding he may need a bit of company for his flight to NYC, Pederson bought one of the little penguins and named him Pete. During this flight, Pete’s head tragically fell off, only to be rescued by one of the stewardesses. This beautiful lady then had a bright idea and used Pederson’s tie to wrap around Pete’s neck to hold his head in place. With Abbot Pederson being a keen golfer, he immediately knew that Pete – looking very dapper in his new tie – was the ideal logo for the Penguin golf collection he was aspiring to create for Munsingwear!

The aim for Original Penguin was to create a realistic competitor to Lacoste. They released golf shirts alongside casual wear – though refused to create a shirt specifically for tennis to avoid a ‘Holy War’ with the French brand.  Original Penguin became the cornerstone of an entire fashion movement which represented a relaxed and sophisticated lifestyle. For the first time, a shirt designed specifically for men’s golf was created by this new brand and the idea was warmly welcomed by the golfing world. This casual, comfortable polo shirt that looks just as good on the course as it does on the 19th hole became a must-have piece. Known as ‘the 55’, the trendy golf shirt from Original Penguin revolutionised golf wear for good.  This timeless polo shirt is a classic and is a staple part of today’s Original Penguin men’s golf collection. ‘The 55’ has of course been improved over the years to reflect today’s lifestyle and can be bought from Golfposer here today!

Through the latter half of the 20th century, that humorous little penguin wearing a tie could be seen on many famous figures.

Golfers included: Arnold Palmer, Dow Finsterwald, Jack Burke Jr, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and more recently Australian Aaron Baddeley!

Other famous bearers of the Original Penguin brand were: Frank Sinatra, Richard Nixon, Dean Martin, Clint Eastwood, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

Original Penguin menswear has also been seen on some youthful trendsetters on
television such as the actors of Skins & How I Met Your Mother!

Original Penguin went under the radar for a decade or so, though they were taken over by Perry Ellis International in 1996 and returned stronger than ever with a sports clothing line in 2003. The sponsorship of Aaron Baddeley renewed their association with the golfing universe, digging up some of their heritage too.

Original Penguin polo shirts are amongst some of the most distinctive ever made. The Earl style is instantly recognisable and is incredibly versatile yet comfortable at the same time. When you buy an Original Penguin item, you are not just buying the product – you are buying confidence, style, image, sophistication and you are also investing in the heritage of a vintage brand. We all know that penguins can’t fly, but Pete the Original Penguin definitely took off in 1955 and is still flying high today!

Golfposer stock a variety of men’s designer polo shirts for both golf and casual wear. Many of our retro golf shirts look just as good on the course as they do on a night out! With trendy colours available and a range of sizes, Original Penguin is a classic brand that any man would be proud to be seen wearing. With the colder days fast approaching we also have men’s casual jackets available that will keep you looking great this winter!

Another tip from Golfposer – start to think about Christmas! We know it isn’t even November yet but why not get some of your stocking fillers sorted out today and forget about those smaller presents you always leave until the last minute? We have a selection of gent’s Original Penguin socks that we managed to get our hands on and are already selling quickly! 

Remember, all online purchases come with free delivery at Golfposer so there are no hidden costs!

View our full range of Original Penguin golf and casual wear here!

Golfposer stock the very latest in Designer Golf Clothing for men. Our Mens Trendy Golf brands include Hugo Boss Golf, Slanj Tartan, Emporio Armani EA7, Puma Golf, Original Penguin, Adidas Golf, Galvin Green, Farah Vintage, and Ralph Lauren.