The amusing story behind Original Penguin begins in 1955 with Munsingwear salesman Abbot Pederson, who, during a sales trip to New York City, bought a stuffed penguin from a Manhattan taxidermist and sat with the specimen on his flight home to Minneapolis. During the trip, the penguin ended up wearing Pederson’s tie — prompting a flight attendant to remark that such a fancy penguin deserved to be embroidered on a shirt. Pederson shared the idea with his colleagues, and soon thereafter Munsingwear debuted the Original Penguin golf shirt — creating an icon of suburban leisure and a favorite among athletes. Half a century later, young urbanites began trolling thrift stores for clothing marked with Pete the Penguin. In response, Chris Kolbe relaunched the brand, now under the Perry Ellis umbrella, in 2003. Today the brand's comprehensive menu includes its signature piped placket shirt as well as swimwear, footwear, watches, hats, shoes, eyewear, and ties.