Object of the Month: September 2022

Chosen by: Angela Robinson, Collections Officer

Collection: Costume

Object Name:

Fred Perry Polo Shirt

Black & champagne, Piqué cotton, Size 40 inch

Donated by by Fred Perry Ltd, 2021

At the heart of the Fred Perry ‘Made in England’ collection is the Fred Perry polo shirt. The shirt has been proudly made here in Leicester since the original shirt worn by Fred Perry in 1952, so this year marks the 70th anniversary of this iconic garment.

The shirts are made in Spinney Hill by UK Piqué and ESP, specialists in the knitting and manufacture of piqué cotton. They are manufactured on traditional knitting machines which give them their distinctive heavier weight feel, which is similar to the 1952 original.

The Object of the Month can be seen in person throughout September at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.