From design concept to material selection, every choice made in creating a Ralph Lauren product is considered and intentional. We are reimagining what and how we create — and the stories we tell through our products and campaigns. This includes our work to embed inclusivity and incorporate circular principles into our designs, enabling our most iconic products to live on through generations.
Progress on Our Goals
98% of units produced met at least one of our sustainable material criteria
Piloted a repair initiative, introduced a denim recycling program and expanded Ralph Lauren Vintage offerings
Achieved the goal to introduce five Cradle to Cradle Certified® iconic products
From design concept to material selection, every choice made in creating a Ralph Lauren product is considered and intentional. We are reimagining what and how we create — and the stories we tell through our products and campaigns. This includes our work to embed inclusivity and incorporate circular principles into our designs, enabling our most iconic products to live on through generations.
We are designing products for Integrated Circularity, considering their end of life; connecting consumers to opportunities for resale, repair and recycling; and investing in scalable innovations.
We are committed to sourcing Sustainable Materials certified to credible third-party standards and working toward increasing traceability across our supply chain.
Through our Design with Intent efforts, we ensure the products we create and the stories we tell are authentic expressions of heritage, putting inclusivity at the center of our design process and brand storytelling — and collaborating with the communities that inspire us.
We are building a resilient and responsible Value Chain by enhancing transparency and traceability, strengthening partnerships and working with suppliers to respect human rights and promote environmental sustainability.
Ralph Lauren prioritizes the use of natural fibers and values craftsmanship to deliver beautiful, durable products that uphold heritage methods and are made to last for generations. As a chief material in some of our most iconic products like cable-knit sweaters, blazers and outerwear, wool is especially valued for its warmth, breathability, strength and hand-feel.
Our partners honor traditional techniques and embrace thoughtful practices that support land health, improve the livelihoods of workers and uphold animal welfare. These efforts are verified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certification and in FY25, 93% of our wool apparel products were made with RWS or recycled wool.
Shaniko Wool Company | Starting with the Imperial Stock Ranch in central Oregon, and later expanding to include 11 ranches across California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming, the Shaniko Wool Company was formed to scale the supply of U.S. grown RWS certified Merino and Merino/Rambouillet wool. We have used wool fiber from Imperial Stock Ranch for over a decade and continue to source from Shaniko’s expanded operations. The certified fiber is used in products including sweaters and notably used in four Olympic collections including in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Team USA Opening Ceremony Blazer.
American Woolen Company | Providing fine worsted and luxurious woolen fabric, American Woolen Company is restoring New England’s rich history of textile production. Operating the historic Warren Mills in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, it is the only remaining U.S. mill capable of producing the highest qualities of worsted and woolen cloth, using fresh spring water to dye and finish yarns and fabrics. We began our relationship with American Woolen to create the fabric for our 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Team USA Opening Ceremony Blazer, and we are continuing to source materials for use in future Men’s and Women’s apparel products.
Ralph Lauren’s design ethos has long been inspired by the lands, cultures and artistry that make up the fabric of America. Design with Intent is the lens through which we ensure the products we create and the stories we tell are authentic expressions of heritage. This means putting cultural inclusivity at the center of our design process and brand storytelling efforts — collaborating with the communities that inspire us and opening the aperture around our design inspirations.
We do this through our Artist in Residence program, Authentic Makers program and other inclusive storytelling efforts.
A first-of-its-kind model for mutually beneficial cultural collaborations, our Artist in Residence program invites artisans practicing traditional craft to participate in an immersive design collaboration with our creative teams. Following the three-part Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses collection in 2023-2024, we launched the Double RL x Zefren-M capsule, with multidisciplinary artist Zefren-M (Diné/Navajo). The capsule fused Double RL’s classic tailoring techniques and Zefren-M’s modern approach to Navajo weaving traditions with designs merging the old and new. The campaign included a short film about Zefren-M’s life, art and the inspiration behind the capsule.
Ralph Lauren’s Authentic Makers program invites artisans to create a product collaboration with Ralph Lauren’s creative teams and manufacture the items using traditional techniques. Our FY25 Authentic Makers collaboration includes a selection of handmade silver and turquoise jewelry from silversmith Lyndon Tsosie (Diné/Navajo) to accompany the Double RL x Zefren-M capsule.
Our Artist in Residence program is integrated within our year-round design calendar and does not have a set product launch cadence. We review applications for our program on an ongoing basis. Apply to participate below.
From initial design to the materials and methods we choose, every element of a Ralph Lauren product is created with purpose and care. We seek to use materials that address our environmental footprint, support farmers’ and herders’ livelihoods and promote animal welfare, while delivering the quality, longevity and durability our customers expect.
We are committed to sourcing materials certified to credible third-party standards, and we are also committed to helping consumers understand the material attributes of our products. To help make verified information more discoverable, we added certifications to product descriptions in our app and ecommerce site, including Cradle to Cradle Certified®, Responsible Wool Standard, Responsible Down Standard and Sustainable Fibre Alliance. Click here to learn more about each certification.
Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification is the global standard for products that are safe and circular, with certification based on performance across five categories: material health, product circularity, renewable energy and climate, water and soil stewardship and social fairness. To date, we have had five of our iconic products C2C Certified® Gold, including our luxury Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, luxury Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater, Polo Denim Flag Trucker Jacket, luxury Cashmere Flag Sweater and luxury Oversize Cashmere Boatneck Sweater. We will be launching an additional product in 2025.
