Munsingwear was making underwear and military supplies until one fateful day in New York City, 1955. That’s when Pete the penguin debuted on Munsingwear’s first polo. Soon after, boxers and camo took a backseat to sportswear.

After a long deep freeze, Pete started appearing again in second-hand stores around 1994. With the success of Swingers in ’96, retro was hot and retailers rushed to capture the cool chic of second-hand. At five to ten bucks a pop, the used Munsingwear stuff that Arnold Palmer, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby made famous flew off the racks.

In 1996, Perry Ellis recognized the buzz behind the rebirth of Pete—acquiring Munsingwear and re-launching it as the Original Penguin we know today. Hip, vintage-style polos, sweaters, jackets and tees in comfy fits and retro prices.