Did you know Polo Ralph Lauren re-released the vintage CP-RL 1993 collection and continues to re-release vintage Polo goodies? Ralph dug into the Polo archives of the 1990's since he acknowledged the growing demand for Lauren to bring the past back. Polo Lauren not only brought back the good stuff form the past, but he went back as far as 1987 when he re-released a vintage multi-color Polo rugby shirt with the original Polo flags in the center of the rugby. The 1987 Polo rugby retails for $145 @ LordandTaylor.com, Barneys.com, Macys.com, Bloomingdales.com, SaksFifthAvenue.com and on RalphLauren.com. XXL sizes are sold out at all online retailers. You'll probably find an XXL on eBaY, but pay twice the cost or nearly $500.
Lo Life crew from Marcus Garvey Village Brooklyn, Ralphie's Kids from St. John's and Utica in Crown Heights, PBS (Paying Back Society), Decepticons (Emergicons and NBC - Nightbreedcons), Steam team, V.I.M.,V.I.P., and others contributed to the 1990's selling success of Ralph Lauren clothing. Inner city youth from Brooklyn where the Lo Life crew originally started back in 1988 started boosting sprees by taking the train from Brooklyn to numerous department stores in Manhattan and clustered in groups to boost Ralph Lauren clothing. They would come back to Brooklyn loaded with Polo, often selling it on the way home on the train back to Brooklyn and risk being robbed at gunpoint by jealous neighborhood rivals, and sometimes even robbed by their own friends. Boosting Polo was a positive and negative for Lauren back then. He lost millions of dollars due to "shrinkage," but gained it back later in free advertising by Lo Lives sporting RL clothing in "the hood." Not all inner city youth from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Harlem, and Staten Island stole Polo. Some bought it because they knew it was the right thing to do and didn't want to feel guilty about stealing a piece they favorite to their heart, knowing later in life they would have to get rid of it because it's stolen. Buying your Polo is always the right thing to do. When you wear Polo especially in Brooklyn, be mindful of your surroundings. Wearing a highly sought after Ralph Lauren current or vintage piece can put you in danger of being ambushed and even murdered for your Polo.
Victor DeJesus discusses vintage Polo pieces and how (in so many words) it's not safe to wear Polo in New York by yourself
Did you miss out on the 1990's vintage Polo goodies or had a limited collection of Polo back in the day? Looking to expand your vintage Ralph Lauren collection? On June 12, 2018, Ralph Lauren is re-releasing more vintage Polo. It'll be sold online and available at the Polo store on Wooster street in Manhattan, nearby where Russell Simmons' old Phat Farm store used to be. Phat Farm store used to be @ 130 Wooster off of Broadway in NYC. Ralph is at 121 Wooster.
Polo Ralph Lauren
121 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
121 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
Coming to Manhattan next month and don't mind traveling to the Ralph Lauren store? It'll be worth the trip. Be mindful to get there early and possibly camp outside the store the night before doors open on June 12. Remember how the lines were for "Polo Snow Beach?" It's going to be jam packed again like sardines with lines possibly lapping around the corner. This time around, Ralph is bringing back vintage goodies that you can't walk around Flatbush Brooklyn with by yourself. If you didn't get your hands on pieces you "Jonesed" for back in the 90's, now's your second chance to make it happen. Don't max out your credit cards and bank accounts while in the store!