Did you grow up wearing baseball tees with sleeves that were a different color than the body of the shirt? Those shirts featured raglan sleeves, a design that might seem trendy today but has actually been around since the early 1800s. So, what exactly is a raglan sleeve, and what makes it different from a traditional sleeve?
The main differentiator is that the sleeve extends all the way up to the collar in one piece, so there is no traditional shoulder seam. Often, the diagonal seam that runs from the underarm to the neckline is especially visible because the sleeves are different colors than the body. This cut creates a softer shoulder line, and many find it to be more comfortable.
The raglan sleeve originated in the early 1800s after a British military leader, Lord Raglan, lost his right arm in a battle. After the incident, Raglan began working with the royal military tailoring company to create a coat with a different kind of sleeve, since he found the traditional design to restrict his mobility and make it difficult to dress himself. His tailor came up with the idea for a diagonal seam, which would later be named after Raglan himself. The style wasn’t popularized until the 1860s, when it gained wider recognition and was entered into the dictionary.
Lord Raglan, inspiration for the Raglan Sleeve
Today, raglan sleeves remain popular in both fashion and sportswear thanks to their comfortable fit, casual aesthetic, and ease of movement. Next time you’re trying on a vintage tee or sweatshirt, keep an eye out for a raglan sleeve and test the difference yourself.