Have you ever wondered why purple and green?

Have you ever wondered why purple and green?

The colours purple and green have been synonymous with Wimbledon for over a century, symbolising the tradition and prestige of arguably the best tennis tournament in the world.  I thought I'd do a little digging to understand what's behind these iconic colours:

The Wimbledon Championships, first held in 1877, initially did not have official colours. The tournament, organised by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), focused more on the sport than branding or marketing.

It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the club officially adopted the colours purple (specifically a shade close to Wimbledon’s “green”) and green as its official colours. 

The colour green is traditionally associated with the grass courts of Wimbledon. It represents the lush, manicured lawns that are a hallmark of the tournament. Grass courts are unique among Grand Slam tournaments, with Wimbledon being the only major played on this surface.

The choice of purple, often associated with royalty and prestige, reflects the tournament's esteemed status. Historically, purple dye was expensive and rare, thus becoming a colour linked with nobility and luxury.

As Wimbledon grew in popularity and global recognition, the purple and green colours became integral to its branding.  Despite the evolution of the sport and the tournament, Wimbledon has maintained many of its original customs, and the purple and green colours are a visible reminder of this enduring legacy, reinforcing its reputation as the oldest and one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. 

If you're lucky enough to bag some tickets make sure you rock your Wimbledon look with Lonestar's Green Alya, definitely fitting in with heritage and esteem.  

 

Reading next

Festival Fever!
Get swept away by the wind, tide and partying at Cowes

Leave a comment

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.