Ralph Lauren Corporation and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Collaborate to Promote Cultural Understanding and Reflect Representation in Fashion

NEW YORK and WASHINGTON – July 1, 2020 – Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global lifestyle brand, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., an international brotherhood, are establishing a partnership with the aim to promote deeper understanding and increased representation of Black and African American communities in fashion. 

The two organizations have been working together since February to develop a strategy and create career pathways and mentorship opportunities for members of Phi Beta Sigma. The organizations are also working toward developing a platform to promote dialogue about cultural awareness in the fashion industry, beginning with a conversation series that will kick off in the fall.    

“Phi Beta Sigma is rich with members who have extensive backgrounds in marketing, branding and organizational leadership. While the circumstances of our meeting were unfortunate, together, Ralph Lauren and Phi Beta Sigma are committed to developing a meaningful and sustainable partnership that will promote and advance inclusion and understanding in the wider fashion industry,” said Micheal Cristal, International President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.  

“We recognize the opportunity to deepen cultural understanding and respect within the fashion industry and look forward to expanding this critical work in our business and more broadly, together with Phi Beta Sigma,” said Roseann Lynch, Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, Global People & Development, Ralph Lauren Corporation.   

Ralph Lauren recently outlined steps it is taking to address systemic racial injustice, detailed here.    

ABOUT PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded on January 9, 1914, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by three African American male students on the principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. The Founders conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. This deep conviction is reflected in the Fraternity’s motto, Culture For Service and Service For Humanity. Today, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders, with more than 800 chapters chartered across the United States and Canada, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Europe.  The Fraternity delivers transformative experiences through its international programs of Bigger and Better Business, Social Action, Education and Sigma Beta Club (youth mentorship program), as well as collaborations with strategic partners. For more information, visit www.phibetasigma1914.org.

ABOUT RALPH LAUREN 
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren’s reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company’s brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps and Club Monaco, among others, constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands. For more information, go to https://corporate.ralphlauren.com.  

CONTACTS 
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. 
Daryl A. Anderson, Sr.
International Executive Director
ied@phibetasigma1914.org 

Ralph Lauren Corporate Communications
RL-Press@RalphLauren.com