The Importance of the Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs Collection
Polo Ralph Lauren recently released their Oak Bluffs Collection in collaboration with HBCUs Morehouse College and Spelman College, highlighting the town of Oak Bluffs, an area of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts that’s been a haven for black communities for decades. The collection is paired with a short documentary film on their YouTube channel, honoring the culture and lifestyle of both visitors and permanent residents of Oak Bluffs, and the brand also created a playlist for the collection on Spotify.
The words used a lot by people discussing this collection are “black luxury” and “black excellence.” During our current climate, where politicians are actively fighting against black and brown people getting ahead in the US, black excellence is an important thing to showcase. Especially from such a popular brand like Polo Ralph Lauren, with this collection showing they haven’t bent the knee to the openly racist president’s administration. But what’s so important about this Oak Bluffs collection isn’t just that it’s a display of black luxury – it’s a display of black history. This collection isn’t simply draping black models in high end clothing, it’s a tribute to the HBCUs of America, and the showcase of a community that has been a landmark for generations of black people.
Ralph Lauren emphasizes the importance of the collection beyond just the wealthy East Coast aesthetic, saying “This collection is about more than a charming coastal town; it’s a story of the American dream. Oak Bluffs’ unique history, traditions, and sense of community deeply inspire me and speak to what we are all searching for—a place where you can be free to be yourself, uncontrived, joyful, and truly at home.”
The collection is now available on their website and in stores, with clothing inspired by the town of Oak Bluffs, the island of Martha’s Vineyard, along with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges.
Featured image by Alexandra Folster via pexels.com