The most iconic piece of clothing associated with the name Fred Perry is the classic piqué cotton sports shirt. It was an instant success after its launch in 1952. Fred called it "the shirt that fits" and its slim-line shape appealed to a generation of body conscious tennis stars who appreciated the breathability of the open honeycomb weave ‘pique' fabric.

They weren't the only ones. British youths, in particular the Mods, adopted the ‘Fred' as their shirt of preference - smart enough to wear beneath a mohair suit, cool enough to dance in all night long. Initially it was available in single colours only. The famous collar and cuff tipping were added in the late 1950's after requests from football fans to include team colours on their beloved shirts.

The shirt became synonymous with a whole series of subcultures driven by musical affinities. Mods, skinheads, suedeheads, soul boys, rude boys, two tone. There was even a short-lived subculture known as the Perry Boys. When ‘Cool Britannia' took the world by storm in the mid 1990s it was no surprise to find bands like Oasis and Blur sporting the epitome of street fashion credibility.

The brand continues to be an integral part of British and global subcultures, the foundation for the brands success.The Fred Perry Shirt sold today remains exactly the same as its predecessors. A timeless classic, the perfect mix of form and function. Not bad for a working class lad from Stockport.