The M3600 is the original, iconic, twin-tipped polo shirt. When Fred Perry created the polo shirt, way back in the 1950s, it was designed to be worn on the tennis court.
Flash forward more than 70 years later and the Fred Perry polo has become a real part of British culture. From ska bands to football fans, Amy Winehouse to Artic Monkeys, each generation adopts the Fred Perry polo and makes it their own.
But Perry’s contribution wasn’t the first polo on the market. So why did it gain such a cult following? We’re discussing…
First, the man who made it
The first Fred Perry polo shirt was launched at Wimbledon, in 1952. It was made in a single colour, either black or white, with the Laurel wreath logo on the chest.
Perry was a keen pipe smoke and initially wanted a pipe as the logo, but Tibby Wegner (the co-founder of Fred Perry) managed to sway him toward the Laurel wreath, which is the Roman symbol of victory (hello Nike) and also the original symbol of Wimbledon.
The polo shirt was made from pique cotton which is soft and supple, and perfect for stretching across the court. The shirt had short sleeves and a buttoned placket (the bit where the buttons are on the chest). It was a simple shirt, but an instant success. Especially when it was worn by top tennis players of the time, Jaroslav Drobný and Neale Frazer.
The 60s
The Mods were the first major cultural group to adopt Fred Perry. They called themselves ‘The Modernists’ because they were inspired by modern jazz and the simple cool of the African-American stars who were making their favourite music.
They loved a parkas, Harrington jackets, tailored suits, and of course, their scooters. As well as the Fred Perry brand, they were big fans of Lonsdale and Ben Sherman too. The Fred Perry signature logo was also repped by none other than James Bond himself, in 1965’s Thunderball.
The 70s
Fred Perry remained popular through the early 70s and by the late 70s a new group had taken the Laurel wreath under their wing, the Skinheads.
The skinheads adopted elements of mod fashion, combined with Jamaican fashion too, inspired by the Jamaican rude boys and bands like the Specials.
The skinheads loved Dr. Martens boots, turned up trousers and button-up shirts. And, Fred Perry polo shirts with braces.
The 80s
The 80s was a rocky time for the brand, but it’s all part of the story.
By the 80s the Fred Perry polo shirt was becoming associated with far-right group, the National Front. This meant the brand moved into the margins a little bit, but by the 90s it was back in the good books.
The 90s
Blur bought the brand back with a bang. The band was bored of the American influence on British youth culture and they were sick of grunge music too. They wanted to go back to all things British, and what better uniform for this than a Fred Perry polo.
The 21st century
By the 21st Century, Fred Perry was back in the mainstream, but preferred by those with a slightly anarchist edge. Think The Streets, Pete Doherty, and of course, Amy Winehouse.
Amy was always pictured in Fred Perry gear, from the Fred Perry twin tipped polo shirt to her Argyle jumpers and capri pants. She was an icon, in an iconic brand.
Uniform of the subcultures
Fred Perry is a brand for all.
From underground subculture to world-famous artists, the laurel wreath has adorned the chest of all kinds of people. Whether you go for an M3600 polo shirt, a Fred Perry classic barrel bag or Fred Perry accessories, this brand gets our stamp of approval.
From zip-up waterproofs to knitted jumpers, smart shirts and Fred Perry t shirts, we’ve got a huge range for you to get your hands on, from size XS all the way to XXL. See our range of vintage Fred Perry clothes and accessories.
Fred Perry quick-fire FAQs
How to wash a Fred Perry polo shirt?
Longer-lasting clothes = less waste. So we’re happy you asked this.
To help your Fred Perry keep its shape you should do the buttons up, turn up the collar and then turn the shirt inside out.
Then, if it is especially grubby wash at 40, if not, 30 is best. If it’s not grubby at all, don’t bother washing it.
The next step is probably the most important, reshape your Fred Perry polo whilst it’s still wet. The specially-made pique cotton needs an extra bit of TLC, but this love will make all the difference.
Stay away from the tumble dryer (not just for your Fred Perry but for all your clothes really). Your clothes HATE the tumble dryer, and so does the world. Line dry your polo by hanging it upside down in a shady spot (the sun will fade the colour).
How to iron a Fred Perry polo shirt?
Fred Perry polos look their best when they’re crease-free and pressed. So, you’re going to need an iron.
- Do the buttons of your Fred Perry up, then fold the collar down
- Pull your Fred Perry over the ironing board so it looks like the ironing board is wearing your shirt (as long as this won’t stretch it)
- The narrower bit at the top of the ironing board should poke through the collar of your shirt
- If you have a darker shirt (like navy blue, black or grey) you might want to use a pressing cloth to protect the collar
- Iron the plaque (the buttoned section) and then press around the collar
- If your shirt has stubborn creases, you can iron it whilst damp
How to tell if a Fred Perry polo is real?
- The logo should be heart side, if you ever see a logo on the other side of the shirt this should be an immediate red flag
- The embroidered logo should be symmetrical and not flawed in anyway
- With genuine Fred Perry shirts, the buttons are usually the same colour as the shirt itself. A navy blue shirt will have navy blue buttons, etc.
- Fred Perry will be embossed on each of the buttons
- All labels will be perfectly printed and readable. If you have issues reading any of the information on the labels, you’re probably holding a fake
- The washing label should have the Fred Perry logo on it too
HOT TIP: Fred Perry offer an authentication service. You can send them your items and they’ll review them, before sending them back to you. You can read more about the Fred Perry authentication service on their site.
What is the difference between Fred Perry M12 and M3600?
The M12 is the closest to the original polo shirt. It’s got the twin tipped stripes on the collar and sleeves.
The M3600 is a variation of the M12, it’s got a finer pique, and a slimmer fit around and smaller proportions around the placket.
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