Image via Ralph Lauren

In honor of the matches currently underway at the US Open Polo Championship. Established in 1904, the tournament has always been the grand prize of polo in North America.

I’m a sucker for sports films that exhibit, at their very core, winning against all odds. It makes me feel alive—trekking that emotional journey so critical in the human experience. Invictus’ premise is bedded in the events shortly after Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison and became president of South Africa in 1994. He seized upon using a rugby World Cup the following year as an opportunity to rally the entire nation—blacks and whites—behind the far-fetched prospect of the home team winning it all. The rugby matches are well filmed and the period-replicate jerseys are a joy to take in visually. Eastwood has done it again. Invictus is a very good true story very well told.

In 1924 Umbro founder Harold Humphreys brought the art of bespoke tailoring to the world of sports. He called it sportswear. Since then, the company from Manchester has remained loyal to “the beautiful game” as the only football specific company...in the World.

They may have an Italian in the dugout, but the England squad are stepping out in British tailoring next summer thanks to Umbro. The new England shirt is not an evolution of an old one but rather an innovation of technology and performance—providing a bespoke kit to each athlete. The four-man design team considered everything from crest placement to perforations in the lower back and under arm, allowing airflow. With the player’s involvement from start to finish the shirt is literally tailored by England. Watch exactly how Umbro has built the new kit from the inside out.

“Traditionally football garments are created big enough for your body to move inside. We created a garment that moves when you do.”

—Aitor Throup, creative consultant