Public Drip golf brand poised for major growth in 2026

Neil Tan launched Public Drip as a New York City–rooted golf label during the pandemic and has since grown from a single polo in 2022 to a brand with international distribution and notable collaborations.

Public Drip golf brand: how a NYC idea became a global label

Tan returned to golf in 2020 while living in a 400-square-foot apartment in New York City and noted a shift in the sport’s culture. “This is not the golf that I remembered it to be,” he told GOLF in a phone interview, describing a more inclusive energy around the game that helped spark the Public Drip idea.

Drawing on his teenage experience of selling T-shirts and his affinity for the city’s public spaces, Tan named the label Public Drip. He explained that “Public” honors community courses and shared spaces like Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, while “Drip” aims to capture authenticity and personal style. The brand aims to blend homage to classic menswear with modern fabrics and practical details for golf clothing.

Design, debut and apparel philosophy

Public Drip’s first design, the Public Athlete Polo, debuted in 2022 and introduced distinctive features such as a cutaway knit collar and a non-rectangular placket. Tan designed pieces to work both tucked and untucked, with the aim of translating from the course to everyday life. The collection combines vintage-inspired silhouettes with contemporary materials—textures reminiscent of Harris tweed, knit ties and tailored collars that nod to menswear while remaining functional for golf.

Tan has been explicit about the target audience: golfers of all ages and backgrounds who value both style and the social side of the sport. “Fashion is a way of self-expression,” he said. “How you want to carry yourself and how you go into a space.”

Public Drip golf brand: traction, partnerships and global reach

Following a broader brand push on Instagram in 2023, Public Drip expanded its line to include double-pleated pants, mock necks, hats and ball markers. The label produced a limited-edition collection for LIV Golf’s Cleeks team, featuring players such as Martin Kaymer, Richard Bland, Adrian Meronk and Victor Perez, and showcased the collection at the PGA Show earlier this year.

Distribution has grown beyond the United States and Canada to Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia, with plans to enter South Korea. Tan also envisions branching into other sports and increasing support for “public athletes”—players who develop in city parks, municipal courses and community courts.

Why the Public Drip approach matters

Public Drip’s story connects a personal rediscovery of golf with a broader cultural shift in the sport. By celebrating municipal courses and community play, the brand taps into how many elite athletes began: by using public spaces to practice and compete. Tan pointed to the role of public facilities in the early development of stars across various sports.

That community-first positioning, paired with a clear sartorial identity, helps distinguish Public Drip in a crowded golf-apparel market. The blend of classic menswear cues with modern performance fabrics appeals to golfers who want authenticity and versatility in their clothing.

What Happens Next

Public Drip plans continued product expansion and deeper community engagement. Tan has indicated that building culture at the local level will remain central to the brand’s mission while the business pursues new markets in Asia and additional sport-crossover opportunities. Given the brand’s steady retail and partnership momentum since 2022, industry watchers and golfers alike will monitor how Public Drip balances growth with its public-space ethos.

Source: Original report

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