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Dec. 5—The Navajo Nation is the backdrop in a new Ralph Lauren campaign that launched Tuesday.
The fashion giant is participating with artist Diné Naiomi Glasses, known for her Navajo weaving as well as her philanthropy.
The first capsule in the Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi eyewear collection includes men’s, women’s and unisex apparel and accessories in a color palette inspired by the lands of Dinétah (Navajo Nation), where the Glasses family resides.
Pieces include jacquard-woven coats and scarves crafted from the herbaceous colors of undyed wool, as well as reinterpretations of Ralph Lauren styles such as ranch-style coats and chunky jackets.
Incorporated into the collection are contemporary adaptations of precious Navajo symbols, such as spider woman crosses, four-way crosses, dragonflies, and wedge-shaped woven designs, reflecting the tradition, innovation, and creativity discovered in Navajo culture.
“Navajo weaving is a craft that has been practiced in my family for seven generations and preserving those traditions with new techniques has greatly encouraged me as an artist. Now to share it with other people around the world, as evidenced through my eyes and coming to life in clothing, is a dream come true,” Glasses said. “It is only through the strength of Ralph Lauren’s collaboration and exclusive program that this collection has been made possible, and the most productive component is that it brings classic Navajo fabric to a new generation. “
Glasses is the first artist to participate in Ralph Lauren’s Artist-in-Residence program, which invites artisans with a variety of skills and mediums to participate in an immersive collaboration with the company’s artistic teams.
The crusade film is created by Ryan RedCorn (Osage) and Daryn Sells (Diné/Navajo) with the behind-the-scenes captured by Lonnie Begaye (Diné/Navajo).
It features a predominantly Indigenous cast and crew made up of family, friends, and the Glasses community, set against the backdrop of the Navajo Nation landscape.
The short film is directed by award-winning filmmaker and New Mexico resident Shaandiin Tome (Diné/Navajo).
It highlights the family life of Glasses, his arrival in the Navajo weaving tradition, his sources of inspiration and the realization of the collection. The film is available to watch on YouTube.
Glasses, an avid turquoise and silver collector, selected an exclusive variety of handcrafted silver and turquoise jewelry through six artisan families from the Navajo Nation, Hopi Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo and Zuni Pueblo, presented the crusade and appeared in RL magazine.
According to Ralph Lauren, a percentage of the purchase price from sales of the first drop of the Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses Collection will benefit Change Labs, a Native-led organization focused on fostering the creation of successful Navajo and Hopi small businesses.
“Heritage and culture are at the heart of everything I love — things that surround good looks and usefulness, that are herbal and personal, and that are passed down from generation to generation,” Lauren said. “Bringing to life the ultimate original expression of heritage craftsmanship means collaborating with those who have created and maintained those timeless cultures for centuries and sharing their stories with the world. This is the opportunity that awaits us, and it will be a valuable component. “of our company’s legacy.