Founded in 1955 by Abbot Pederson, Original Penguin is a full lifestyle brand that includes suits, watches, bags, belts, hats, shoes, and women’s and kids’ collections.
- On a flight home to Minneapolis from Manhattan Pederson brought along a taxidermied penguin he brought in a drunken state and named “Pete” earlier that evening. He ended up putting his tie on the bird prompting a stewardess to joke that such a lucky, dapper bird surely deserved to be immortalized — maybe even embroidered on a shirt similar to the one Pederson was wearing.
- Pederson, a keen golfer, created the Munsingwear golf shirt. From the moment it hit the shelves it was a must-have, popular with suburbanites and sports legends alike.
- As a testament to the timeless appeal of the Original Penguin clothing company’s classic designs, the shirts catapulted back into fashion starting in 2000, when young trendsetters started scouring yard sales and demanding their favorite vintage stores restock the cult classics. In 2003, this overwhelming new audience led to the rebirth of an Original Penguin by Munsingwear, and an alliance with an international fashion house.
- In addition to mens, womens and children’s clothing Original Penguin now includes glasses, bags, hats, wallets, shoes, belts, ties and watches.