A new Ralph Lauren collection honors the ‘Spelhouse’ legacy

One of America’s legacy luxury brands is honoring the legacy of some of our greatest American institutions. On Tuesday, Ralph Lauren announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with two of the most revered of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities: The Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection.

The promise of America’s historically Black colleges and universities has always been the opportunity to achieve excellence, forged well before college-aged Black students were allowed to study alongside their white counterparts. But while generations of HBCU graduates have fulfilled that promise, America’s promises to its Black citizens have continually fallen far short, a reality glaringly brought to the nation’s attention during the racial uprisings of 2020.

Amid the countless commitments made by corporations during that time, the Ralph Lauren Corporation made a series of commitments to support and improve racial equity internally and at large. Among them was a $2 million pledge to the United Negro College Fund in December 2021, designated to support scholarships for students at Morehouse, Spelman and 10 additional HBCUs, according to the company’s press announcement.

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Now, that partnership has expanded into what Ralph Lauren has always done best—design timelessly elegant American fashion. The Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection is “a limited-edition collection inspired by the schools’ rich heritage and esteemed traditions,” says the brand, which says it aspires to put a new face on the portrait of the American Dream.

The label also admits it has fallen short in its past representation. The collection, which was conceptualized and designed by Morehouse and Spelman alumni within Ralph Lauren’s ranks, “seeks to honor the history of both schools and widen the aperture of Ralph Lauren’s storytelling —including the nature of life at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), a story untold in depictions of Ralph Lauren’s collegiate sensibility until today,” it now states.

“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 the Ralph Lauren Corporation, in a statement. “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.”

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