My friends, as you well know, I’m an Original Penguin kind of guy.
I’m all in on retro-cool iconic with a mid-century suave kind of vibe. That cuts to the very essence of who I am.
In my mind, at least.
All kidding aside, Original Penguin (or The OP to those of us in the know) is a staple in this guy’s closet. I even love the brand’s new hashtag:
#OriginalGoodTime.
I can work with that.
Anyhoo, Original Penguin is launching its 2026 Men’s Spring Collection this week and this retro-cool-iconic-mid-century-suave kinda guy is glad to be here for it.
Original Penguin Spring Collection: The OP is The OG
You can make a compelling case that Original Penguin is the OG for casual sportswear. Launched by Munsingwear in 1955, Pete the Penguin (that’s really his name) was a favorite of celebrity sporting men like Arnie, Sinatra, Hope and Crosby.
The ‘70s and ‘80s weren’t kind to both Pete and Munsingwear which declared bankruptcy in 1991. Original Penguin lay dormant until 1996 when it was snapped up by Perry Ellis. The OP relaunched in the early 2000s as a heritage golf and lifestyle brand.
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Which brings us to the 2026 Spring Collection which, according to the press release, is “a refined expression of the brand’s iconic heritage infused with modern performance innovation for today’s golfer.”
I don’t know about you but that’s the kind of talk that gets me tingly inside.
“We’re building on the heritage that defines Original Penguin, while introducing modern fabrics and fits that meet the expectations of today’s consumer,” says Perry Ellis CEO Oscar Feldenkreis. “It’s apparel designed to perform at the highest level but still feel effortless and versatile off the course.”
A unique combination
It would be easy to overcook the retro-cool vibe but Original Penguin pulls it off nicely. It also does something I wouldn’t have thought possible: the styles and colors pop and are understated at the same time. This Pete’s Watercolor Study golf polo is about as wild as The OP gets.
The new Spring Collection, like virtually every other apparel collection we see, is, as explained in the press release, “designed to transition seamlessly from the course to the clubhouse and beyond.”
Golf, unlike softball, pickleball or hell, even beer league ice hockey, doesn’t require sports-specific apparel that would look silly anywhere else. Imagine showing up for work on casual Friday or date night with the lady of your dreams dressed as if you’re ready to headman the puck to a streaking linemate on the open wing while the center trails the play in case of a rebound.
You wouldn’t. But you might show up dressed like this:
In fact, I’m pretty sure my wife would love it if I showed up for date night looking like that.
Sustainability and REPREVE©
Several apparel brands, most notably Galvin Green, are leading the way in incorporating sustainable materials in their apparel. You can add Original Penguin to the mix, as the brand is incorporating REPREVE© recycled yarns into select pieces.
REPREVE©, made by the U.S.-based textile company UNIFI, is a brand of recycled fiber made primarily from recycled plastic bottles. UNIFI processes those bottles into small plastic flakes which are then melted and extruded into long, thin fibers. Those fibers are spun into yarn and knitted into fabric.
REPREVE© is used by brands such as NIKE, adidas, Patagonia and North Face as well as Original Penguin. It’s a little bit more expensive than traditional virgin polyester yarn due to the recycling process and third-party verification. In terms of finished product pricing, however, the difference is literally just pennies.
PGA Tour winners Brian Campbell and Nico Echavarria are Original Penguin brand ambassadors as are Max McGreeby, Kristoffer Reitan and Johnny Keefer.
If you’re looking to score some golf-specific OP deals, check out The Pete Invitational. Some of the items are in limited sizes but the discounts run as high as 73 percent off.
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