Izod golf shirts retain the brand's preppy roots while adapting to modern tastes. The line survived changes in ownership, the end of a Lacoste licensing arrangement, and heavy discounting; current products appear across department stores, outlets, and online, blending classic cuts with contemporary updates.
Overview
Izod's golf line has long been one of the brand's best-known categories. Built on the label's preppy heritage, Izod golf shirts have appeared in department stores, factory outlets, and online retailers for decades. The line remains notable for versatile polos that work on the course and off.
A short brand history
Izod traces its roots to the mid-20th century and rose to mainstream popularity by the 1980s. For many years the brand leaned into a preppy aesthetic shared by other labels of the era. Izod also had a licensing relationship with the French sportswear brand Lacoste that attached Lacoste's crocodile logo to some Izod products; that relationship ended several decades ago and the shared identity dissolved.
Ownership and corporate arrangements have shifted over time. Izod was owned for years by Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) and later moved under different corporate management and licensing structures.1
Why the brand lost momentum - and what survived
Several factors reduced Izod's mainstream visibility. Expanded mass-market competition, heavy discounting through outlet channels, and the end of the Izod-Lacoste association all contributed to a decline from the brand's 1980s peak. Despite this, the golf line persisted as a recognizable and durable part of the Izod assortment.
The modern Izod golf shirt
Today, Izod golf shirts emphasize the same clean, preppy silhouettes the brand is known for while adapting to current tastes. Contemporary designs combine classical cuts with updated styling cues that make the polos equally suitable for casual wear and recreational golf. Retail distribution now includes department stores, discount outlets, factory stores, and e-commerce platforms.
Manufacturers across the golf apparel segment have widely adopted performance-oriented fabrics and construction - moisture management, stretch, and UV protection are common features in modern golf polos - but specific features vary by season and model.2
Looking ahead
Izod's golf line continues to trade on a heritage image: recognizable preppy styling with occasional modern updates. The category's long-term prospects depend on how successfully the brand balances classic appeal with current performance and fit expectations, and on how it is positioned by whatever company holds the brand and licenses moving forward.3
- Confirm the exact founding year and early history of the Izod brand.
- Verify details and dates of the Izod-Lacoste licensing relationship and when it ended, including logo usage.
- Confirm current corporate owner(s) or licensing arrangement for the Izod brand as of 2025.
- Check whether current Izod golf shirts specifically advertise performance features (moisture-wicking, stretch, UV protection) for the latest collections.