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Polo Ralph Lauren

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Source: RALPH LAUREN / Ralph Lauren
Just because you can’t make it to Paris doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the wins in style. Ralph Lauren has launched their 2024 Olympics collection.

Source: RALPH LAUREN / Ralph Lauren

As reported by Variety Magazine the house that Ralph built is is returning as the Official Outfitter of Team USA. For the 2024 edition the brand focused on telling a captivating narrative of how heritage and sport come together. As expected the collection is rich with sporty graphics, color-blocking, stars, and stripes all in the country’s signature colors of red, white and blue. Included in the drop are all the ceremonial uniform garments and matching accessories. Also available are pieces inspired by the games including a reinterpretation of RL’s iconic flag sweater with the Olympic rings below it.

This campaign features Olympians from various sports including Jagger Eaton (Skateboarding), Jeffrey Louis (Breaking), Shilese Jones (Gymnastics), Jessica Long (Para Swimming) and Roderick Townsend (Para Track & Field). The brand expressed their enthusiasm about the collection in a formal statement. “Ralph Lauren is profoundly honored to define the look of the American delegation as they represent our country in one of the world’s most celebrated and storied events” said Chief Branding and Innovation Officer David Lauren. “For nearly 60 years, Ralph Lauren has been a pioneer at the intersection of style and sport—the vibrancy, passion and self-expression in sport has been a central touchpoint of inspiration for our brand since the very beginning of the iconic Polo brand in 1967.”

The Ralph Lauren Team USA Olympics collection is available now and can be shopped here. 

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Source: powerHouse Books / Powerhouse
Brooklyn is still taking it. One of the Lo-Lifes’ founding members has written a new book detailing his life story and how the crew changed fashion forever.

As reported by The Gothamist Rack-Lo is set to has penned his life story in Lo-Life: The Story Of Rack Lo. Born George Billups the New York native co-founded the infamous Lo-Lifes. As the story goes there were two boosting crews in Brooklyn, one from Crown Heights in St. John’s and the other from Brownsville in Marcus Garvey Village. Rack, which is slang for stealing, lived in both areas and seemingly united both factions into one. In 1988 the Lo-Lifes were born.

The collective would specialize in high risk shoplifting missions throughout the city that not only provided them an outlet to make money with reselling but kept them fresh from head to toe. While they didn’t discriminate what stores they pillaged, they quickly gained an affinity for Polo Ralph Lauren due to the brand’s signature color block designs, crests, symbols, and more. So much so the Lo-Lifes became synonymous with the apparel line and would be credited for bringing high fashion to the streets. Over 35 years later there are Lo-Lifes throughout the world that honor the original crew’s tradition of staying fresh but also love and loyalty.

But to hear Rack-Lo tell his life was a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs that included ducking warrants, arrests, rival gang confrontations, bullet wounds and even jail time. Lo-Life: The Story Of Rack Lo will be available April 23.

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Source: POLO RALPH LAUREN / Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo Ralph Lauren is celebrating Chinese Lunar Year in a big way. The brand has a limited-edition watch to celebrate the occasion.

Source: POLO RALPH LAUREN / Polo Ralph Lauren

Hypebeast is reporting that the American fashion label is releasing a new timepiece that will commemorate the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the dragon. It features a stainless steel 38mm case and black gross grain straps; however, the point of difference is located on the off-white lacquered dial. The brand’s iconic Polo Bear is styled in a red velvet smoking jacket with a black shawl collar paired with black slippers and red socks. In one hand he is holding three envelopes; each bearing a golden dragon, which symbolizes health and wealth for 2024.

As expected, the timepiece is powered by the brand’s signature RL2000 caliber self-winding Swiss movement. We also get the font logo on the nine-hour marker and shiny black lacquered hour, minute and second hands. Lastly, this timepiece is water resistant to 50 meters / 165 feet. The Polo Ralph Lauren Chinese Lunar Year watch is limited to 50 pieces. The price is $1,750.00 and will be available starting Saturday, Feb 10. You can find more information on it at the Ralph Lauren website here. 

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Source: RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION / ELEMENT / RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION / ELEMENT
Two iconic brands are coming together for a unique drop in the fall. Polo Ralph Lauren has announced a co-branded effort with Element Skateboards. 

GQ is reporting that the house that Ralph built is doubling down on their efforts to plant more roots in skate culture. This week Polo Ralph Lauren teased a forthcoming collaboration with Element. The worlds of skate, outdoors and premium lifestyle fashion are seemingly merging via a collection that ranges from clothing, accessories, decks, wheels and other goods. Included in the wearables line-up are jackets, button-up shirts, khakis, graphic t-shirts and hats. The standout piece thus far is a reworked knitted sweater that features a young child skating by a schoolhouse located in a woodsy area.

To promote the launch the brands have curated a short film. Polo Ralph Lauren and Element worked with some of the most revered skate shops and invited 13 skaters from 10 different countries to meet the Element Skate Pro team at the Seek Skate camp in Oregon, USA.  This is not the first time Polo Ralph Lauren has worked with the skate community. Back in 2018 the fashion label worked with Palace Skateboards on a capsule.
The Polo Ralph Lauren x Element collection will be available globally starting on Wednesday, October 5 at www.elementbrand.com. 
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Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty
One of America’s most beloved fashion brands is planning a big 2024. Ralph Lauren is confirmed to return to New York Fashion Week in September.

As spotted on High Snobiety the Bronx, New York born designer will be debuting his upcoming collection to fashion industry tastemakers later this year. Women’s Wear Daily reports the Manhattan based label is planning a woman’s fashion show at an undisclosed location. The last time RL hosted an event at New York Fashion Week was September 7, 2019. The invite only affair was staged at Ralph’s Club; a one night only experiential set up that was a nod to supper clubs from the Jazz Age. After tuxedo forward collection was presented Janelle Monáe took the stage and performed.

The last show in the United States RL hosted was in San Marino, California on October 13, 2022. Hosted at the Art Museum and Botanical Gardens the festivities attracted the likes of John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and more. His most praised installation in recent history was his 50 year anniversary celebration back in 2018. Dubbed “An Evening In Central Park” transformed Central Park’s iconic Bethesda Terrace into the backdrop for a landmark event featuring a runway and a seated dinner for 500. Oprah Winfrey was in attendance and praised Ralph Lauren for his contribution to not only fashion but American culture. “Your work these past 50 years has told the story of our lives. The lives that we live and the lives we aspire to live” she said.
The date for the Ralph Lauren 2023 New York Fashion Week show has yet to be confirmed.
Photo: Anadolu Agency

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The team at Ralph Lauren has some explaining to do. George Gervin is suing the brand over unauthorized use of his likeness.

As spotted on Nice Kicks the basketball legend has filed a lawsuit against the apparel and home goods company. According to Bloomberg Law he is seeking compensation over what deems to be a clear and cut case of exploitation of his likeness. The Polo Ralph Lauren marque is selling a sneaker called the “Gervin Mid”. Not only does it use his name but the shoe bears a striking resemblance to the Nike’s Blazer Mid Vintage 77 sneaker which he was the first to debut in an NBA game.

According to the paperwork he was alerted about the Ralph Lauren release by a friend who saw the high-top and sent him a text congratulations. Gervin and his legal team then sent a cease and desist letter and followed up with a formal lawsuit. “I have worked hard throughout my career to build my name and reputation, and I will not allow any company to exploit it without my permission” Gervin said in a formal statement about the matter. “I am taking legal action to protect my rights and ensure that consumers are not misled”. Counsel for Ralph Lauren says that this is all a coincidence and they named their sneaker the “Gervin Mid” because it “sounded good”.
Nicknamed “the Iceman”, is an American former professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. Gervin averaged at least 14 points per game in all 14 of his ABA and NBA seasons, and finished with an NBA career average of 26.2 points per game. In 1996, Gervin was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 2021, Gervin was named as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
You can see a comparison of both models below.

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