Ralph Lauren Polo Mesh Shirt

Classic Fit & Custom Fit

Buying Guide 

For more than 38 years, Polo’s reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company’s brand names, which include “Polo by Ralph Lauren”, “Ralph Lauren Purple Label”, “Ralph Lauren”, “Black Label”, “Blue Label”, “Lauren by Ralph Lauren”, “Polo Jeans Co.”, “RRL”, “RLX”, “Rugby”, “RL Childrenswear”, “Chaps”, and "Club Monaco" among others, constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

~ www.polo.com

1967 - Where it all began

Ralph Lauren establishes the Polo label with an instantly successful line of ties. In direct opposition to the narrow ties and conventional styles of the time, Lauren designs wide, handmade ties using unexpected, flamboyant, opulent materials. The ties quickly become a menswear status item.

“A tie was the way a man expressed himself. I believed that men were ready for something new and different. They didn’t want to look as if they worked for IBM. A beautiful tie was an expression of quality, taste, style.”

Already interested in promoting a lifestyle with his ties, Ralph Lauren names his line after a sport that embodies a world of discreet elegance and classic style: Polo.

~ www.polo.com

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(U.S.+Foreign) Polo, Polo Sport, Polo Golf ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 41381

(U.S.+Foreign) Polo Country, Lauren (men) ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 41381

(U.S.+Foreign) Polo Jeans Co. ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 67437

(U.S.+Foreign) Ralph Lauren Childrenswear ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 113338

(U.S.+Foreign) Ralph Lauren Womenswear ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 94306

(U.S.+Foreign) Lauren (women) and Ralph ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 54050

(U.S.+Foreign) Ralph Lauren Chaps ~ RL Corp. Registry Number WPL125

(U.S.+Foreign) Unknown ~ RL Corp. Registry Number 19672

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The Company operates in three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Licensing  

Polo's Retail Segment consists of 147 full-price retail stores and 145 factory stores worldwide. The Company operates full-price retail stores, including Ralph Lauren, Club Monaco and Rugby and also operates factory retail stores, including Polo Ralph Lauren factory stores and European factory stores. Polo Ralph Lauren factory stores are principally located in outlet centers in 36 states and Puerto Rico.

Polo's Wholesale Segment sells its products to upscale and certain mid-tier department stores, specialty stores and golf and pro shops, both domestically and internationally. Their primary showrooms are in New York City. Department stores are the Company's major wholesale customers in North America. In Europe, its wholesale sales are a varying mix of sales to both department stores and specialty shops, depending on the country.

Polo's Licensing Segment through licensing alliances, Polo grants its product licensees the right to manufacture and sell at wholesale specified categories of products under one or more of its trademarks. The company has licensing arrangements with some 350 contract manufacturers. The Company grants its international geographic area licensing partners rights to distribute certain brands or classes of its products and operate retail stores in specific international territories. These geographic area licensees source products from Polo, its product licensing partners and independent sources. Each licensing partner pays the Company royalties based upon its sales of its products.

~ www.Reuters.com

We (Polo) do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities and therefore depend upon independent third parties for the manufacture of all our products.  Our products are manufactured to our specifications by both domestic and international manufacturers.  During fiscal 2003, approximately 5%, by dollar value, of our mens and womens products were manufactured in the United States and approximately 95%, by dollar value, of these products were manufactured in Hong Kong and other foreign countries.

We contract for the manufacture of our products and do not own or operate any production facilities of our own.  Over 290 different manufacturers worldwide produce our apparel products.  Polo grants its product licenses the right to manufacture and sell at wholesale specified categories of products under one or more of its trademarks.  The Company's licenses have 3 to 5 year terms and may grant the licenses conditional renewal options.

~ www.Edgaronline.com

 (Some) Countries of Origin Past and Present

Sri Lanka, Philippines, Hong Kong, Bolivia, Northern Mariana Islands, USA, Indonesia, India, Peru, China, Columbia, Mexico, Korea, El Salvador, Singapore, Jamaica, Mauritius and others.

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1.  MATERIAL:  Ralph Lauren uses the finest of natural materials being 100% pure COTTON.  Pure cotton fades the very first time you wash it.  The color dye sits on top of the cotton fibers.  That's why some dye washes off.  Synthetic fibers are made to be a certain color, that's why there is no fading when washed.

2.  LOGO:  Ralph Lauren logos are tightly woven using heavy, polished thread.  The colors in the logo do not run.  The logo should not be frayed or dull looking, and there should not be a space down the middle of the horse (between the horse's shoulder and rider's left leg).  On the back, you can see it is sewn onto a little piece of white mesh.  Make sure that the horse's harness is detectable and the mallot and hooves are clearly seen.  The rider is looking to his right and holding the mallot in his right hand.  The logo's threads overlap so there are no empty spaces inbetween any of the stitches. You cannot see the fabric through the logo.

REAL  PONY                          FAKE PONY                       

3.  STITCHING:  Ralph Lauren uses the same color thread as the material. The length of the stitch is short, to give the appearance of "being less noticable".  If you see stitching that is long and loose, be wary.

4.  LABELS:   All labels are made of two-toned spun NYLON.  Side seam labels are folded in half and stitched in.  If there is a paper-ish label in the side seam with ink printing, don't buy it. 

• CARE SIDE LABEL

Folded - Care label sewn in the left side seam.  Labels are two colors of spun nylon.  Turn the label  inside out, are there are loose nylon threads.  This label is then folded in half and stitched in.  Typical colors are Navy with white letters, or white with navy letters. On the front is care instructions, and on the back side usually is a number.

REAL SIDE LABEL                   FAKE SIDE LABEL

(no icons)                               (has icons)

          

 

• MFG. COLLAR  LABEL

Three (3) labels -The Mfg. label is stitched on two sides. The top and bottom are not attached. The size label is added on it's left side, and sewn on right-side up (RN # can be found on back).  Under the Mfg. label is a third label with place of manufacture & 100% cotton, folded in half, and stitched in (sometimes, the RN # is on back).  

REAL                                        REAL

               3 COLLAR LABELS                      INSIDE OUT                      

  

 

5.  BUTTONS:  Small pearlesque buttons. They are also recessed meaning they have a shallow part in the middle of the button.  Sewn on using a "cross" stitch (an "x" stitch).  

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Signature ~ MESH POLO ~ Shirt (classic/custom)

Mesh
Knitted or woven fabric with an open weave producing a characteristic screenlike effect. Mesh provides lightweight, breathable coverage that makes it an ideal choice for warm-weather dressing.

What makes Polo Ralph Lauren’s polo shirts special?

Our polo shirts carry a logo that has represented quality for four decades. Beyond that, our signature cotton mesh polo is fashioned from a durable yet comfortable woven cotton mesh that gets better with each washing. Then there’s the uneven vented hem, longer in back than in front, so the shirt stays tucked in. There’s also the special knit-rib collar and cuffs, which not only make for that traditional polo construction, but also don’t become wavy with repeated washings. Tubular taping inside the shirt, across the shoulders and along the neckline provides reinforcement in high-stress areas.

The buttons are beveled for ease of fastening, they’re highly polished to suggest quality and cross-stitched to keep them where they belong. And the buttonholes are horizontal, which helps to keep buttons buttoned. And finally, we size the pieces of the shirt appropriately. Polo has pieces graded to each size shirt. That means a medium-size shirt gets a medium collar and sleeves and a large shirt gets a large collar and sleeves.

What are the different fits in polo shirts?

Fit is always important, whether it’s about comfort or style. Ralph Lauren polo shirts for men are designed in two fits: classic and custom-fit.

1.  The classic polo, Style #2130294, is cut with a full body and generously proportioned shoulders and sleeves. Originally designed as a knit sports jersey for tennis, rowing and of course, polo, the classic is a perfect fit for active lifestyles. Longer shirt = longer button placket. The logo is aligned at the button placket.

2.  The custom-fit polo, Style #2130297, is tailored for a slimmer, more modern silhouette. Trimmer in the chest with higher armholes and shorter in the front, back and sleeves by approximately 1.5 inches, it’s a chic alternative to the classic polo.  Shorter shirt = shorter button placket. The logo is aligned below the button placket.

Both shirts have a two button placket, ribbed collar and armbands, and uneven vented hem.

~ www.polo.com

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Polo Customer Care Center

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Call a Customer Service Representative at – 888-475-7674

 Customer assistance hours of operation are:

Monday - Friday 9 A.M. - midnight
Saturday - Sunday 11 A.M. - 11 P.M.
Memorial Day 11 A.M. - 11 P.M.
Independence Day 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.
Labor Day 9 A.M. - 6 P.M.
Thanksgiving Day Closed
Christmas Eve 9 A.M. - 7 P.M.
Christmas Day Closed
New Year's Eve 11 A.M. - 7 P.M.
New Year's Day Closed
All hours are Eastern Time