Ralph Lauren's Inclusive Shift: Celebrating American Diversity

This summer I had wanted to chat about the Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluffs collection on the blog because I thought it was a really interesting juxtaposition along side the launch of the Sydney Sweeny American Eagle ad and the Katseye GAP ad (the American Jean War of 2025 if you will).

Unfortunately as many of you know, this collection coincided with the death of my youngest son Franklin. And as important as I thought this collection was when it comes to American fashion heritage, I wasn’t really in any sort of space to talk about it.

But earlier last week Ralph Lauren launched a collection that I found equally as important and it gave me the chance to chat about this delightful and impactful trend from them in aggregate.

No, I’m not talking about a Ralph Lauren Christmas (most of us already have that at home if we shop our closets to be honest).

But Ralph Lauren has been highlighting different facets of luxury American life through the creation of collaborative and curated cultural collection and through the art of story telling.

In a time where we visibly see many brands actively pull away from anything not sterotypically ‘American’ or Eurocentric, seeing a dominate American heritage brand lean in with with their chest, bringing POC designs with them to share something authentic is refreshing.

Particularly as an American Black woman with a vested interest in luxury fashion and style, seeing this play out, and learning more about this marketing streatgy feels uplifting in a space that hasn’t always been the kindest to those deemed as outsiders.

In this blog I want to explore with you all this shift to inclusivity from Ralph Lauren, if I think it’s just surface level marketing tactics and why I feel its so important for Americans of Color to be portrayed and celebrated for their cultural in a luxurious way.

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A woman wearing a patterned blanket with red, black, and gray designs, standing on a pathway in a grassy area, facing away from the camera.

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Table of Content

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Support Indigenous Art

Today marks the end of Indigenous History month here in America, but I would be remiss not to mention 8th Generation.

8th generation is a marketplace highlighting American Indigenous artisans.

From beadwork, to blankets and other homegoods, you’ll find an assortment of products great for gift giving (or even for yourself).

I have been way more intentional with my shopping and who I’m supporting this year: I know a lot of you are being just as intentional.

If this bog post inspires you but you’re not finding what you like through Ralph Lauren, consider checking 8th Generation out.

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A History of Stolen Designs

Before I dive into what I love about the recent artist in resident collections from Ralph Lauren, I think it’s very important that we talk about the history that this design house has with cultures of color.

Ralph Lauren is a great example of a company that hasn’t shied away from their mistakes, but learned from them.

Geographical, American is a HUGE country with a multitude of key aesthetics. And while other American luxury design houses typically focus on a more East Coast styles like Coach and Tiffany’s, Ralph Lauren made the choice to expand from the classic Boston Ivy League tailoring and represent all major geographic American aesthetics in an upscale way.

Particulally leaning into the ‘American Western’ aesthetic, Ralph Lauren as a brand had been know to be ‘inspired by’ inderiounous cultural designs.

This all reached a head in October of 2022, when Mexico accused Ralph Lauren of plagiarizing Contla and Saltillo cultural patters in their designs.

While there are some who would call this harmless inspiration in the name of fashion, using culturally significant designs without understanding what they mean and without giving voice or creating space to the people who created the designs is cultural appropriation and it can be deeply harmful.

In response to their call out, Ralph Lauren pledged that they would bring in culturally relevant designers to collaborate with to create collections that were authentic and representative.

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A person standing by the water's edge, wearing a blue college sweatshirt draped over their shoulder, a navy cap, and a black skirt, with a picturesque landscape in the background.

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A brand paradigm shift

Ralph Lauren stayed true to this promise when they officially launched their Artist in Resident collections.

Coming on the heels of their Morehouse and Spellman on going collaborations that started in 2022, the Artist in Residents program brought on several Indigenous artist including the likes of Naomi Glasses and Zefren-M in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

With their Artist in Resident program, Ralph Lauren aims to invite “…artisans who sustain heritage craft to collaborate with its design teams in a mutually beneficial creative partnership…”(1)

Furthermore, this program is part of a larger scale initiative by the company: “…known as Design with Intent, to expand its portrayal of America and to evolve from inspiration to collaboration with communities that have historically inspired Ralph Lauren’s designs…” (2)

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Ralph Lauren X TOPO

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Just days before Thanksgiving I was made aware of the release of the Ralph Lauren x TOPA collection.

TOPA is the third Indigenous fashion brand to partner with Ralph Lauren as part of their Artist in Residence initiative.

Because of the limited run with high demand, there was a limit of 2 pieces per person. And a lot of these pieces went quick. But as of the posting of this blog, there are still some items available.

I was imediateily drawn to the beadwork on some of these pieces. The belt for example with the four pointed star was just gorgeous to me. But to no one’s suprise, this piece sold out right away.

I also really liked the beading on the Reflections Above jacket and pant. Had I not invest a huge chuck of my budget into thrifting this month, I would have probably pick up pants.

The sweaters with the tribal motifs are also just beautiful, made with the same quality we have come to know from Ralph Lauren.

But what I ended up going with is the Sky Camp Blanket.

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Sky Camp Blanket Mini Review

The motifs in this collection holds a lot of symbolism and I encourage you all to learn about them through mini documentray and essays that Ralph Lauren has provided (more on these later).

However I did want to offer a little mini review of the Sky Camp Blanket

This blanket is still in stock at the moment, and with a price just south of $250.00, it’s still expensive but more accessible than the rest of the collection.

And while this blanket has more acyclic and polyester in it than wool, I love the fact that the materials sourced for this are recycled, making this product a bit more sustainable.

A person standing on a path, wrapped in a red and black patterned blanket, with a green landscape in the background.

It does use a lot of synthetic materials but the blanket is still very warm!

I wrapped myself up in it while out in 35 degree weather and felt very comfortable. While this isn’t going to replace my coat, this is defiantly the blanket I’m using to keep warm during these colder months.

At almost 7 feet long and 5 feet wide, this blanket is very long and can almost cover my California king bed. if you want to wear it, I suggest folding it in half hamburger style so that it won’t drag on the group.

I do wish that this blanket was made by actually Indigenous artisans, That said, it is designed by Indeigenous people, made in Italy and presented in a limited edition gift box.

Over all this is a luxury product with a lot of utility and meaning, making it a wonderful gift for the holidays.

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A woman standing by the water, wearing a blue sweatshirt, a baseball cap, and a short black skirt, holding a small handbag. She has long hair and is looking towards the camera.

Oak Bluffs

I also purchased from the Oak Bluffs collection that was released in July of this year.

For those who are unaware, Oak Bluffs was a safe summer refuge in Martha’s Vineyard for the more affluent class of Black Americans, including many HBUC attendees and alumni.

In the second collaboration with Morehouse and Spellman Colleges, Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluffs collection showcases Northeastern summer beach-y styles that feel very authentic to the Black Americans who found joy and release here.

I had my eyes set on the limited edition patchwork jacket thought that sold quick. They did offer a patchwork quilt, but at $1,300 it was above my budget.

They also offered an “Oak Bluffs” beaded belt that was sold out at one point but is currently back in stock. This is a purchase I may swing back around to grab.

They also created this beautiful eyelet wrap that is just a summer time dream to me.

I ended up purchasing the Spellman Quarter Zip and the Stripped Jersy T Shirt.

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A woman sitting on the beach, wearing a striped t-shirt and white shorts, accessorized with jewelry and a small handbag, with a calm lake and distant hills in the background.

Shop Oak Bluff’s collection on Ralph Lauren

Oak Bluffs Mini Review

I feel like Ralph Lauren predicted the whole Quarter Zip/prep trend with this whole collection. Though to be honest, this collection felt very on brand for RL, while all feeling very Black.

I love a good T shirt, especially one with a more tailored fit. I do wish that the sleeves were rolled and styled like they were in the promotional photos, but I like how the collar falls and the over all shaping of the shirt itself.

Being made of 100% cotton the shirt feels very nice and breathable during warmer spring and summer days. I also really enjoy how the lettering is dyed on while the ‘Polo’ logo on the sleeve is fully stitched so it won’t come off over time.

Unlike the quarter zip, which sadly looks like they used a Circuit and basic vinyl to apply the lettering.

On the site they sell this as a ‘personal touch’ but it honestly feels sloppy to me. This is sad because I truly love the feel of the zip. It feels so luxurious when you wear it and it has become my go to jacket for traveling.

This zip is made from 84% cotton and 16% polyester. While I do wish that it was fully cotton, the cotton they do use is sustainabily sourced, and I believe it is blended to help with warmth and structure.

At nearly $200 for the zip and $128 for the shirt, these are luxury clothing pieces so no one actually needs to run out and get these.

But as a luxury and culture love, I am glad to support projects like this.

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American Luxury Beyond Eurocentric Measure

American luxury has always been defined by its proximity to European standards.

Collections like the two highlighted above don’t change this, but it does creates new avenues for more people to witness American luxury in a different light.

I really appreciate how Ralph Lauren didn’t just drop a collection for us to admire but the crafted history and presented it to us in a beautiful manner of storytelling.

By presenting us with the storied history behind each of these collections, we bring in a much needed human element and become invest in them.

We start to see the value in other cultures beyond the Eurocentric ones we have grown up with.

A woman sitting on the beach, wearing a blue sweatshirt with 'Spelman College' printed on it, a matching blue cap, and a black skirt. She has a joyful expression, with sand on her legs and a phone lying beside her.

A woman standing outdoors, wearing a denim dress and holding a colorful blanket with a geometric design. She is looking at the camera with a confident expression.

My Hopes Moving Forward

Moving forward, I would love to see Ralph Lauren’s Design with Intent program include collabrations from a wider swatch of American life.

Seeing them pay homage to Black and Indigenous cultures has been amazing, but I would also love to see more Asian and Hispanic inclusion as well.

The beauty of America lies in how diverse we are and I would love to see more luxury brands highlight this.

Final Thoughts

I’m excited to see Ralph Lauren stand by their word and move forward with their Design with Intent program.

Especially in times like this where many companies are rolling back DEI programs and shying away from cultural diversity, seeing a prominent American luxury brand highlighting non Eurocentric fashion is as refreshing as it defiant.

From here I hope to see more; not just from Ralph Lauren but from other luxury brands as well who often gain inspiration from other cultures but hardly collaborate with or celebrate them.

If you like articles like this, then I invite you to join my instagram and Facebook page and join in on the community conversations over there.

I would also love to hear your thought down below in the comment section.

Diversity in American Fashion-Ralph Lauren X TOPA, Oak Bluffs

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