Polo by Ralph Lauren, Bleecker Polo Challenge Cup polo shirt, cotton, 2009, USA, gift of Ralph Lauren Corporation

Hip hop aficionados draw fashion inspiration from a wide array of sports from basketball and football to hockey and polo. The interest in polo is not surprising considering that hip hop favorite Ralph Lauren designs a large collection centered on the sport. Although the game of polo, involving horses and mallets, is obscure to most people, polo shirts are ubiquitous in men’s fashion.