On March 29, 2022, Ralph Lauren launched for sale a collection in partnership with Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. The beauty of the launch is that it is not just about clothes. It is a chance to feature HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and support Black students. The website provides information about each school, allowing the visitor to learn more about their histories. In addition, Ralph Lauren has committed scholarship funds for HBCU students.
The collection and campaign were entirely Black produced. This is the first time this has happened in the history of the brand. The idea for this capsule was conceptualized and designed by Morehouse and Spelman alumni at Ralph Lauren. All of the creative talent and models were also Black, also tapping into the schools’ student population and alumni networks.
The collection pays homage to style traditions of the schools. It takes inspirations from looks from the years ranging between the 1920s and 1950s, the heyday of the HBCU. Iconic Spelman traditions include white dresses and Spelman blue, whereas the Morehouse line proudly features the school’s tiger mascot.
Here are my favorite looks
For more information, please see the Ralph Lauren site and the film produced for the collection. Items are available through the Ralph Lauren site and the Spelman and Morehouse campus bookstores. (psst, it looks like the collection is unavailable online right now. This would be perfect time to visit the campuses to check out their bookstores and learn more about what they have to offer.)
A Wren Says 