Image: Kraftklub promo photo [Tim Kloecker]
When you think of a polo shirt, you almost certainly picture retirees on the golf course or, alternatively, fancy sailing trips à la Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street.
While that isn't too far from reality, anyone who has been hanging around the music scene for a while probably knows that bands like Kraftklub, and even the deepest hardcore scene, have a thing or two to say about it. Even if it begs the question of how polo shirts and sweaty mosh pits go together—the fact remains that the two have been intertwined for decades. Hardcore, punk, and alternative rock have made their very own statement with a buttoned-up polo and collar. Read on below to find out which bands have conquered the style.
From Tennis Courts, the Working Class & Hardcore Shows
So, how does a tennis shirt become a statement in front of cranked-up amps? Well, the polo shirt was actually invented for the tennis court, by none other than tennis star René Lacoste himself. Later, fellow tennis star Fred Perry joined the mix, remaining an undisputed design icon to this day (always distinguishable by the laurel wreath symbol). By the way, it only became known as a "polo shirt" because in the 1930s, polo was the even more elite sport, and because a certain designer named Ralph Lauren had a very clever marketing strategy in the 70s. The design gradually evolved from a "sports shirt" into casual wear for the upper class—a status symbol. In the 70s, Ralph Lauren's polos became massively popular, right on cue for the uprising of the hardcore punk scene. Boom, there it is!
Within the UK working class, the early skinhead and mod subcultures emerged (which, at that point, had nothing to do with the right-wing groups known today). It was here that young working-class kids developed the rebellious trend of simply "stealing" the elite look of the upper class and pairing it with boots like Dr. Martens—a statement that couldn't possibly be any louder. Instead of torn work clothes, they wore a smart polo shirt, a look that was adopted by the hardcore punk wave and eventually spilled over into other heavy subgenres of the music scene. The style draws its power primarily from its provocative contrast: tearing up the stage with brutal breakdowns while wearing a designer shirt.
So, if you've ever wondered why we stock neat and tidy polos alongside Terror and Knocked Loose merch: now you have your answer.
Bands in the Spotlight: These Artists Share the Polo Vibe
There are artists who have firmly integrated polos into their stage outfits—from back in the day right up to the present. Let's get into it.
Kraftklub
If there is one band that has anchored the polo look in our minds, it's the indie punk-rock group from Chemnitz. Ever since their breakthrough, Kraftklub have been wearing their signature white—and sometimes black—polo shirts, complete with suspenders and matching varsity jackets. Check out their Rock am Ring performance from 2015 below.
Deftones
Throughout their career, Deftones have put out one iconic album after another, and to this day, they maintain a matching cult style on stage. Below is an example of frontman Chino Moreno performing at Download Festival 2022—and it's far from the only time he's been spotted in a classic Fred Perry polo. Furthermore, at the end of 2025, Deftones dropped a collaboration with Dickies—decades after their self-made bootleg versions—which completely sold out in record time. Yet another band that has united fans from subcultures like the skate scene and the music scene alike.
Photo by Jonathan Weiner
Turnstile
Hardcore in the here and now is still deeply rooted in the 70s and 80s. While bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Black Flag paved the way, Turnstile are now bringing their own twist to both the genre and its style. At the 2023 Grammys, they put together custom outfits featuring Carhartt WIP pants, Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1s, and other designer pieces. The internet put it best:
👏👏 TURNSTILE didn't win a Grammy, but they won the red carpet. pic.twitter.com/4Fx5uc5y9k
— revolvermag (@Revolvermag) February 6, 2023
Agnostic Front
But now onto hardcore, and specifically the good old-school stuff, with Agnostic Front from the NYHC scene. Hoodies and cargo shorts reign supreme here—and even if they didn't wear the iconic Fred Perry polo themselves, they are undeniably part of the subculture whose fans still celebrate the polo aesthetic to this day. Various artists featured on Fred Perry's website name Agnostic Front in interviews as virtually the soundtrack of their youth. Guitarist Vinnie Stigma himself spoke about this era in another interview:
"For me, it was really more about being a hardcore skinhead ex-punk rocker. I never, never wore a Fred Perry. Maybe once to a funeral or something. A lot of people would give them to me[...]"
