US' Ralph Lauren launches first Artist in Residence collaboration

Ralph Lauren has launched Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses, the inaugural collection of the company’s Artist in Residence programme, which invites artisans working with a variety of skillsets and mediums to participate in an immersive collaboration with Ralph Lauren’s creative teams.

Intentionally focused on the celebration and preservation of heritage craft, the Artist in Residence programme is part of the company’s broader efforts to shift from inspiration to collaboration with communities that have inspired Ralph Lauren. The collaboration with Glasses, a seventh-generation Diné (Navajo) textile artist and weaver, is the first of more to come.

Ralph Lauren’s design ethos has long been inspired by the lands, cultures and artistry that make up the fabric of America. Aligned with its commitment to re-examine what and who is included in its depiction of the American experience, the company has been on a journey to amplify diverse stories, deepen its sources of inspiration, and ultimately, form creative partnerships within the communities that inspire its designs. In 2020, Ralph Lauren set out to expand its collegiate sensibility to include the prestige and dressing traditions of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), resulting in its first HBCU collaboration with Morehouse College and Spelman College. Similarly, the company sought to collaborate with indigenous artisans, whose heritage craft is an important part of American art and cultural identity, the company said in a press release.

“Heritage and tradition are at the centre of everything I love — things that encompass both beauty and utility, that are uncontrived and personal and are passed down for generations,” said Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation. “Bringing the most authentic expression of heritage craft to life means working with those who have created and sustained these timeless traditions for centuries and sharing their stories with the world. That is the opportunity that awaits us — and that will be a valued part of the legacy of our company.”

The Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses collection will be unveiled to consumers as three seasonal, special-edition product launches through 2024 that celebrate the artistry of timeless Navajo traditions through the lens of Naiomi Glasses. The first capsule includes men’s, women’s and unisex apparel and accessories in a colour palette inspired by the lands of Dinétah (Navajo Nation), where the Glasses family resides. Standout pieces include woven jacquard blanket coats and wraps crafted with the natural colours of undyed wool alongside reinterpretations of Ralph Lauren styles like ranch coats and thicket jackets. Contemporary adaptations of cherished Navajo symbols like spider woman crosses, four-directional crosses, dragonflies and wedge weave motifs are incorporated throughout the collection, reflecting the tradition, innovation and creativity present throughout Navajo culture. Also featured is an assortment of beautifully crafted knits, velvet tops, timeless layering pieces and classic Ralph Lauren silhouettes like the iconic polo shirt and baseball cap that complement Glasses’ personal style.

“Navajo weaving is a craft that has carried on through my family for seven generations and preserving these traditions in new ways has been so inspiring to me as an artist. To now be able to share it with people around the world, as seen through my eyes and brought to life in clothing, is a dream come true,” said Naiomi Glasses. “It is only through the power of collaboration and Ralph Lauren’s unique programme that this collection was made possible, and the best part is that it brings traditional Navajo weaving to a new generation.”