The History of Henley Shirts

Henley shirts first showed up in 19th-century England as men’s undergarments. Originally called “undervests,” they were among the first collarless undershirts and thus quickly became popular. In the town of Henley-on-Thames, the home of the Royal Regatta, Henley shirts were quickly adopted as sportswear because the button placket and lack of collar offered superior ventilation for athletes. The shirts then spread further throughout England through the crew racing tradition of swapping shirts at the end of a race day. Industrial Age inventions like the cotton gin and water-powered milling made mass-producing cotton clothing possible on a far wider scale than ever before and further contributed to the widespread popularity of Henley shirts. Until the 1970s, Henleys were almost exclusively used as sportswear, but toward the end of the 20th century, fashion trends became increasingly casual. A buyer for Ralph Lauren saw a vintage example of a Henley shirt and decided it could be a great option for a line of casualwear. Ralph Lauren released a series of Henley shirts and other influential brands soon followed. Soon after, Henleys for women were also introduced to the fashion scene. Today, Henley shirts are considered a staple garment and are available in a variety of colors and fabrics.