In 1955, Abbot Pederson became inspired by a tie, a stuffed penguin, and some whisky. He was working for Munsingwear, an undergarment factory in Minneapolis, and was on a sales trip to New York City. Before his flight left for home, he decided to wait his time out at a local bar. That night, he took a wrong turn down Manhattan Street and found himself in front of taxidermist’s shop that featured a window of stuffed penguins. He ended up buying one, named him Pete, and took him on his flight back to Minneapolis. On the flight, Pete the penguin wore Abbot’s tie and a stewardess joked about how lucky and dapper the penguin was. She continued to joke that Pete should be embroidered on Abbot’s shirt. What started as a simple joke, in fact, turned into reality. He started with golf shirts, which took the market by storm. His clothing, known for comfortable and classic designs, started to become a staple of Americana style and was represented by celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Clint Eastwood. Nowadays, the luxury brand has expanded beyond men’s clothing and makes shoes, accessories, and women’s and kids’ collections. After all these years, the Original Penguin® still embodies a confident and relaxed style.