The story
DRESS CODE TO PLAY POLO
THE EVOLUTION OF THE POLO: FROM SPORT TO EVERYDAY LIFE
Simple and aristocratic: the Polo 19-42 by La Martina.
The ideal alternative for various elegant (but not too elegant) occasions, as well as casual (but not overly so) events. A dress code originally dictated by the sport of the same name, which has made La Martina the official brand in the evolution and development of the polo shirt, turning it into a true style icon to this day.
The origin of the polo: from military regiments
From polo, a sport with noble and distant origins, practised mainly in Argentina, India and England, came the development of the polo shirt, used by the British teams of the militia regiments, in particular the 10th Hussars Regiment and the 9th Regiment of Lancers, who practised
this sport in their spare time. Hence the origin and evolution of the iconic garment, first in full jersey and later in slab, with a history that dates back more than 120 years.
LA MARTINA: A LEADER IN THE CREATION OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE POLO
The Argentinean brand was born from a vision of Lando Simonetti and his wife Gachi Ferrari, who wanted to offer the best quality in the production of all technical polo equipment, distinguished by high safety, comfort, structure, unique designs and customisation, thanks to a direct link with the world's most important players.
La Martina polo team, the first to have a sponsor
For La Martina, the 80s were the springboard for a story of success that is still recognised all over the world today. When the La Martina polo team officially participated in the Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo, Argentina's most important championship, it requested and obtained the first official permission from the AAP (Asociación Argentina de Polo) to involve Alfa Romeo as a sponsor in the tournament. This innovative and unprecedented gesture in the history of polo brought incredible visibility that translated an important intercontinental echo.
Within a few years, most polo teams would be wearing La Martina. A redesign of the classic polo shirt was natural: the name of the event was added to the sleeves and the names and graphics of the sponsors featured on the chest. A pioneering and strategic choice by La Martina to place its logo in a central position, while still giving space and visibility to the sponsors on the sides. The first La Martina polo shirt featured a collar with a small logo embroidered on the inside and a weave in slab jersey, just like the original. It also featured a single button for a finer opening, original sleeves without internal elastic, and a logo strategically positioned under the slit.
It was at this time that the FIP (Federation of International Polo), which organised the World Polo Championships (and still does so today), studied and recognised the La Martina polo as the best in the field. As a result, La Martina became Official Supplier of the World Cup and was exclusively entrusted with the design and production of the polo shirts worn by all teams: from the qualifiers to the 8 finalist teams.
Lando Simonetti, Fonder and CEO of the company, decided to take a further step forward by founding the Polo Management Group, a company that provides technical expertise in the organisation of tournaments and the creation of official polo shirts for these tournaments.
LA MARTINA: FROM OFFICIAL SUPPLIER TO READY-TO-WEAR WITH POLO REPLICAS
In view of the numerous requests from polo players and teams around the world, La Martina had an ingenious idea: to introduce the polo shirt from the world of sport into everyday life, creating a parallel wardrobe to the official one used on the field - no less elegant, but fit for purpose. This moment marked the birth of the La Martina brand and the beginning of the production of the ready-to-wear version: the Polo Replica. Featuring an interplay of colours and fabrics, with the recognisable La Martina logo and details of sponsors and team names, they can be worn not only on the field but also for leisure time.
The polo shirt by La Martina quickly became an international symbol for a certain lifestyle - one that was sporty but at the same time worldly and cosmopolitan, with a proudly Argentinian passport as well as British and exotic roots
Polo jersey 19-42
“When the brand was born in 1985, it was born with a vocation: to produce technical equipment for the game of polo, and to spread and share the values that were associated with this world. We succeeded by
distinguishing ourselves through excellence and professionalism, so much so that a few years after our foundation and the production of technical clothing, some players personally asked me to produce jerseys for them to wear when playing too. And so La Martina's iconic polo shirts Martina were born. These garments have a 120-year history and, over time, we have managed to make them familiar even among those who have never played polo”
“This was my greatest success: claiming a space in people's daily lives”.
Lando Simonetti, Founder and CEO of the brand