The History of the Fred Perry Fashion Brand

Fred Perry is one of the most clearly defined and iconic fashion brands in the history of British fashion. The famous wreath logo may have begun on a humble sweatband, but it is now emblazoned upon a whole range of clothing and footwear.

From Fred Perry shirts to Fred Perry knitwear, from Fred Perry sweats to Fred Perry trainers, you can now buy a whole range of quality fashion items donning this iconic logo – but how did one of the UK’s most popular and quality names in fashion begin?

Fred Perry was a champion tennis player in the 1930s, winning eight major Glam Slams and three consecutive Wimbledon Championships.

So, how did this legendary tennis player become wrapped up in fashion?

The story goes that in the late 1940s, Perry was approached by an Australian footballer known as Tibby Wegner. Wegner had created the first anti-sweat device to be worn around the wrist. Perry developed this concept and created the first sweatband, which became an immediate hit amongst sportsmen and women.

Perry wasn’t content with merely producing a humble sweatband. Under Wegner’s guidance, his creation was quickly followed with the arrival of a logo sports shirt. The original Fred Perry shirts were initially designed as sports shirts and were made from white knitted cotton pique with short sleeves. When the first Fred Perry sports shirts were made available to purchase at the Wimbledon Championships in 1952 they were an immediate success.

The original Fred Perry shirts quickly evolved from being a garment for the tennis playing elite to an iconic symbol of freedom and rebellion for the youthful subcultures of the 1960s and 70s. From skinheads to followers of Northern soul, Fred Perry’s white polo shirt became a popular fashion garment for rebellious teenagers across the UK.









The Logo

It may be one of the most recognisable fashion logos in the country, but many people remain unaware of what the Fred Perry logo actually symbolises. This small, iconic logo, which is typically stitched into the left breast of a Fred Perry shirt, is actually a laurel wreath, based on the original symbol for Wimbledon.

Fred Perry shirts and other branded garments continue to be regarded as a symbol of style, quality and taste, so it is hardly surprising that the brand was previously the clothing sponsor of British tennis player Andy Murray.