Why Pioneering Apparel Brand Original Penguin Went All-In on the Miami Pickleball Club

If you've seen the Miami Pickleball Club play, one thing is undeniable: They've got aura.

There is a certain bravado that emanates from OG Jay Devilliers. And the youthful confidence of Mya Bui is positively contagious.

It doesn't hurt that Miami was the 2024 Major League Pickleball Challenger Champs, either.

But whether they're on the court or off, their pink and blue pinstriped look is indisputably next-level – and it's all thanks to a multi-year partnership with Miami-based apparel brand Original Penguin.

Here's how the purveyor's of America's original iconic polo shirt ended up outfitting one of MLP's swaggiest teams (and how a little of their look can rub off onto you, too).

Original Penguin's impact on American apparel

In 1955, a visionary salesman named Abbot Pederson traveled to New York City on a sales trip for the Munsingwear brand, at the time an underwear and military supply company.

A few whiskeys and an impromptu stop at a taxidermy shop later, he found himself flying home with a stuffed (and rather dapper) Penguin named Pete.

In a matter of years, the Munsingwear Golf Shirt was born, embroidered with Pete’s likeness. It quickly became a favorite on and off the course for legends like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Arnold Palmer, and Clint Eastwood.

Seventy stylish years later, Original Penguin is a global brand that embodies a mix of iconic American sportswear with modern-minded style.

Already a staple in golf, the brand continues to evolve into the sports arena with the addition of tennis and pickleball apparel purpose-built for players of all skill levels.

When golf met pickleball

Original Penguin's foray from golf to racket sports was a natural one.

With its headquarters in Miami, FL, it made sense to look to the local pro team to partner up.

“We partnered with Miami Pickleball Club because they bring a refreshing style to the sport—confident, colorful, and competitive,” says Oscar Feldenkreis, CEO of Perry Ellis International, which owns Original Penguin.

Original Penguin's 2025 Pickleball Collection brings the brand’s mid-century roots into updated silhouettes, temperature-regulating fabrics, and smart design details to meet the demands of today’s athletes.

New men's and women's styles feature lightweight fabrics with built-in ventilation, bold prints, patterns and textures, and re-imagined silhouettes.

The looks, says Feldenkreis:

Mya Bui, the electric 25-year-old new to the league this year (pictured below), agrees.

“The women’s gear is amazing," she says. "Lightweight, breathable, and just the right amount of bold — kind of like Miami itself," she says.

A partnership built on performance

So far, the partnership has proved mutually beneficial.

In a sea of nondescript MLP uniforms, replete with blacks and whites and greys, Miami's wash of blue and pink is bold and refreshing and fun. It turns heads, and the iconic Pete the Penguin is hard to miss.

"Together," says Feldenkreis, "we're rewriting the playbook on what pickleball fashion can be."

The Miami Pickleball Club is feeling the love as well.

“Our partnership with Original Penguin has been a cornerstone of our success both on and off the court," says MPC General Manager Jamie Duguid. “We’ve consistently been one of the league’s top-performing teams—and without a doubt, the best outfitted.”

In late 2024, the two brands teamed up to bring a pickleball court to a Miami Dolphins game, where any of the 40,000 fans in attendance had to opportunity to test their skills before heading into the stadium.

For the 2025 season, MPC announced a partnership with FanDuel Sports Network to broadcast a collection of their home matches in Florida.

There's plenty more to come from the dynamic partnership between Miami's heritage American apparel brand and newest professional sports team.

But one thing is certain: The Miami Pickleball Club will continue to show up and show out on the court – and look amazing doing it.

Click here to see Original Penguin's 2025 Pickleball Collection.