Polo Ralph Lauren announced Tuesday that it is furthering its partnerships with two Atlanta HBCUs, Morehouse College and Spelman College.
The Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection focuses on the style of students at the well-known colleges from the 1920s to the 1950s.
“This collection expresses the spirited history, deep sense of community and legacy of timeless dressing at historically Black colleges and universities,” said Ralph Lauren, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation. “It’s so much more than a portrayal of a collegiate design sensibility. It’s about sharing a more complete and authentic portrait of American style and of the American dream — ensuring stories of Black life and experiences are embedded in the inspiration and aspiration of our brand.”
The Collection was designed by alumni from both colleges who work at Ralph Lauren.
The company says this also marks the first time it has produced a campaign that features an all-Black team, from the photographer to the creative directors to the talent. They add that the talent is mostly comprised of students, faculty and alumni from both colleges.
The full Collection features outerwear, knits, tailored suits, dresses, footwear, accessories and more.
Two items highlighted in the campaign pay direct homage to the schools they represent.
White patchwork eyelet and silk wrap dresses symbolize the white attire ceremony that marks students’ induction into Spelman College. A wool flannel blaze is reminiscent of a Morehouse blazer typically given to young men during their first days on Morehouse’s campus.
“Historically Black colleges and universities have uniquely been centers of both intellectual discourse and cultural influence for more than 150 years,” said David A. Thomas, Ph.D., President of Morehouse College. “The Morehouse partnership with Ralph Lauren intelligently, creatively and boldly puts this intersection on full display, reflecting the breadth of impact we have had in driving societal transformation throughout our history.”
“Spelman College’s culture is a powerful combination of both community engagement and confident self-invention. This collection celebrates the inventiveness of individual style, when it intersects boldly with institutional tradition, such as the choices on display in the wearing of white attire,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., President of Spelman College. “By sharing the early history of Spelman, as reflected in archival research, through clothing, the collection encourages conversations about the creative power of the Black experience and the ways in which a personal fashion aesthetic intersects with institutional values of solidarity and connection.” Polo Ralph Lauren is taking the Collection beyond the clothes with a film “A Portrait of the American Dream” and a commemorative yearbook detailing the history and significance of HBCUs like Morehouse and Spelman.
Presenting—A Portrait of the American Dream
Our film explores the philosophies of HBCUs entrenched within their students and American culture, through the lens of @Morehouse and @SpelmanCollege
Join us for the film premiere on March 28 at 7:30pm ET on https://t.co/cS5Z4UOPrx pic.twitter.com/aIdt9Bg90F
— Ralph Lauren (@RalphLauren) March 15, 2022
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