Original Penguin

In 1955, a sportswear icon was born from the most unusual of places. Fuelled by whiskey and a delayed flight, Abbot Pederson purchased an unlikely drinking buddy for his flight home in the form of a stuffed penguin he named Pete.

At some point during the flight, and after another cocktail or three, he accidentally knocked the head off Pete the Penguin. A stewardess on-board the flight wrapped a necktie around the Penguins neck and quipped ‘He would look good on a shirt’ which led Pederson to embroider this character on his new shirts. An Icon was born.

Since then Pete the Penguin has left his mark on a league of legends from Frank to Bing and Clint to Arnie. Original Penguin had been adorned and adored by the masters of culture and sport to define itself as an American classic that knows how to have fun. Still revered by the originals of today, this iconic brand now fully encompasses the lifestyle of what it means to be an original, and how to enjoy yourself while doing it. We are what you wear for the good times.