If you’ve ever paid attention to your clothing, you might have noticed a loop at the back of some of your shirts, particularly dress shirts worn by men. This loop serves a practical purpose that you may not have known about until now. While a button-down shirt is typically worn casually, it can also be dressed up with the right pants and accessories.

The small loop at the back of the shirt was designed for those who spend a lot of time at the gym. It allows the shirt to be easily removed and hung on a hanger without needing to place it in a closet or find another spot before joining other clothes in a different location.

You Know That Weird Loop Behind Your Shirt Collar? Here's What It's  Actually For

Another use for the loop is to indicate whether someone is in a relationship or single. If the loop is left out of the shirt, it signifies that the person does not need to hang the garment elsewhere, indicating a stable relationship. However, the loop doesn’t hold much significance any more and is simply an extra piece of material on the back of clothing.

Over the past century, the American style has evolved significantly, but some elements remain unchanged. This holds for men’s clothing, including the subtle yet undeniable detail of the back-of-the-shirt loop.

Why do Shirts have Loops on the Back ~ TELUGU WORLD

Often referred to as a “locker loop” or “fairy loop,” it is stitched onto many oxford or button-down shirts. Its purpose? As you might have guessed, the loops are intended for hanging the shirts up. The origin story of the locker loop is sometimes linked to US sailors who used them to hang their shirts on ships.

They became a regular feature of mainstream menswear during the 1960s, particularly on college campuses as part of “preppy” attire. Clothing manufacturer Gant is credited with popularizing this button-down style on Ivy League campuses across the country. The man behind the company initially began selling the shirt design to Yale’s campus store, and eventually, its popularity spread.