Ralph Lauren is commemorating Black History Month, not with a collection, not with clothing, but with stories. On their site, they highlight the importance of sharing Black stories to preserve the heritage and culture. To do so, they spotlight four people who are all storytellers in their own right in their campaign: A Heritage Preserved. Danny Kasirye, a photographer, who captured many of the images in the brands collaboration with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy are the founders of BLK MKT Vintage, a store that specializes in pieces from the Black experience. Finally, Chester Higgins is an author, photographer who captures the essence of the Black culture, both here and abroad.
Okay, there is one product, but it is vastly cheaper than anything else on their site. A $10 pin. The commemorative pin was designed by the members of the brand’s Black Advisory Council. All of the profits from sales of the pin through to March 31, 2023 will go to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Ralph Lauren Scholarship Program. This is all a part of Ralph Lauren’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion, with a particular emphasis on work with the Black community.
Personally, as an outsider looking in, it is nice to see how the brand is embracing this direction. It is heralded as a quintessential American brand. For their part, they are ensuring that they tell the American story more fully, as they weave instrumental aspects of the connection Black history and Black people to fashion. That includes last year’s collection with Morehouse and Spelman.
I, for one, want to learn more about the company’s approach in this area, their strategy, and their greater vision moving forward. I’m going to do some more digging, but it you would like to read the stories in the current campaign and watch the accompanying film, visit the Ralph Lauren site to see more.
If you want to read more content like this, here are some more you might like:
And here are my most recent posts:
A Wren Says 