Men Trending Ralph Lauren

4 Things We Love About Ralph Lauren | February 2020

Shannon Firby on Tue, Feb 11, 20

Ralph Lauren has been charming the fashion industry since 1967 with tailored polos, jackets, shirts and much more. Self-described as 'defining modern luxury with romantic elegance and timeless style.' and perceived globally as a classic American brand - we have to agree.

Over the last 50 years, Ralph Lauren has become a namesake within the fashion industry, for both menswear and womenswear. The quality and fit just can't be beat, and with the unmistakable polo horse logo - Ralph Lauren is an iconic brand that is internationally recognised.

Needless to say, we're big fans of Ralph Lauren menswear, and we're going to break down the four things we love most about this outstanding designer label.

ralph lauren polo shirt

Absolute Quality

There is nothing better than knowing you made a great investment. Sometimes sticker-shock can keep us off investing in good clothing, but the alternative can present a false economy. Sure, a £10 t-shirt is cheap, but it will probably fade, shrink, and fall apart after a couple of wears and washes. Whereas splashing the cash and investing in a high-end garment actually saves you money in the long-run as it will last much longer, and look much better too.

Ralph Lauren is renown for their cotton fabrics and textures. If you know how to tell the difference between a high quality shirt and a low quality shirt, it's all about the fabrication. Real fashion connoisseurs understand that it's not only about the logo.

Ralph Lauren's attention to detail has proven that high end brands are a better investment than cheap fast-fashion clothing.

Ralph Lauren garments are designed from fabrics that are 100% cotton, which means the items are breathable, washable, and durable.

On the RL website, 'crafted, not made' is a main message, reinforcing the focus on high quality for the brand. With their own cotton mesh, and a mix of elastane, Ralph Lauren clothing is on another level. No wonder it's so popular!

ralph-lauren

Iconic Impact

Ralph Lauren works tirelessly on creating new fits and designs for men and women from everyday casual to the red carpet. The brand styles A-list celebrities such as Antonio Banderas, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Idina Menzel, and many more.

Ralph Lauren also dressed the entire cast of the 1974 film The Great Gatsby, which really made an impact on the brand name and helped skyrocket Lauren into internationally recognised fame.

These days, Ralph Lauren isn't only on the runway.

Ralph Lauren is not only a fashion designer, but also an advocate. The designer has made a huge impact on raising awareness for cancer care with campaigns like the Pink Pony. When you purchase from the Pink Pony collection, 25% of each item’s purchase price is donated to Ralph Lauren’s fight against cancer. Founded in 2003, the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care, a program within Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has provided access to quality cancer care regardless of an individual’s ability to pay for treatment. They offer cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support services for those affected by any type of cancer.

Being a climate change activist, Ralph Lauren created with the Earth Polo, to reduce their carbon footprint as well as raise awareness for sustainability. The Earth Polo is available in a variety of 'green' inspired colourways and fits. Each shirt is made from 12 plastic bottles, and the company has pledged to 170 million plastic bottles recycled by 2025. The colouring for each polo is inspired by the colours of the planet, and are achieved via a unique carbon dyeing process that uses no water in the application of the dye.

Furthermore, the brand launched the Pride Collection to provide support for the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the official website, "For more than 25 years, ralph lauren corporation and the polo ralph lauren foundation have supported the lgbtqia+ community through volunteer activations, corporate initiatives, and financial grants. our partners have included, but are not limited to, the hetrick-martin institute, amfar, aids walk new york, god’s love we deliver, and the elton john aids foundation." The collection features a hoodie, t-shirt and polo with Pride Flag colouring and rainbow polo logos. About 50% of the profits are donated to charity in the collection.

They also created the POLOxFeed collaboration project that focused on fighting childhood hunger. Since 2007, FEED has provided more than 100 million meals to children globally. In partnership with No Kid Hungry, the Polo x FEED capsule collection provided school meals in the US, where hunger is a daily struggle for more than 13 million children.

Overall, the Ralph Lauren brand is committed to giving back, in support of human rights, cancer research, sustainability, and more. It's this authority and impact that provides a level of status to whoever wears Ralph Lauren.

A mural of Ralph Lauren in Brooklyn, NY

Fantastic Fit

The quality of fit for Ralph Lauren cannot be beat. Their collections offer slim and regular fits, typically made with fitted sleeves and silhouettes which fit close to the body. Perfect for those who love a tailored look to their outfit.

The Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt Guide is a perfect example of how serious the brand takes proper fitting clothes. In a recent interview about the 25th anniversary of their Purple Label range, Ralph Lauren was quoted as saying “I’ve always believed in the art of fine tailoring. I wanted the fit and construction to have the integrity of old-world craftsmanship yet remain soft and supple, natural and comfortable.”

The fit of Ralph Lauren products makes a massive difference compared to your everyday button down shirt off the high street. Their commitment to sizing and quality means that your fit will typically be true-to-size. Especially when shopping for mens suits!

Timeless American Style

Ralph Lauren has successfully established a brand that speaks to every generation since creation, encompassing the very definition of timeless style. This success is due partly to recreating old classic styles and incorporating trends without compromising on their classic American branding.

Despite an initial struggle to connect with Millenials and Generation Z, Ralph Lauren has increased their efforts to invest in building digital personalistion and Instragram-worthy aesthetics by recently increasing their marketing spend by 16% for brand awareness. The brand has also partnered with a number of influencial celebrities to keep their clothing in the spotlight throughout the seasons and in the front of everyone's minds.

Once upon a time, it was only Ralph Lauren and only America. Now the label has grown internationally and also includes Polo Ralph Lauren, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, The Purple Label, Double RL, as well as fragrances and jewellery. The brand has selections for men, women and children, as well as a successful home collection.

Not too many designers can say that they are a household name.

Ralph Lauren has definitely changed the course of American fashion and beyond. Discover the latest from Ralph Lauren at EQVVS menswear here.

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