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Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses, the inaugural collaboration of the Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence program, honors Navajo heritage and centuries-old weaving traditions
“Heritage and tradition are at the center of everything I love—things that encompass both beauty and utility, that are uncontrived and personal, and that are passed down for generations. Bringing the most authentic expression of heritage craft to life means working with those who have created and sustained these timeless traditions for centuries and sharing their stories with the world.
That is why we have developed the Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence program, inviting artisans to collaborate very personally with me and my design teams—allowing us, together, to form a special blend of traditional craftsmanship with our timeless design ethos.
This is how we bring a truly authentic expression of these designs to life, benefiting artisans and respectfully sharing the timeless beauty of their heritage and stories.”
Naiomi Glasses, our first artist in residence, is a seventh-generation Diné (Navajo) textile artist and designer. The Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses collection honors Navajo artistry and culture through Naiomi’s eyes. Drop 2: Color in Motion is a celebration of creativity, community, and cultural pride in a bright palette of traditional motifs.
To accompany the drop, Naiomi curated a selection of handcrafted pieces from renowned Indigenous jewelers
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Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses
The Collaboration
Over the past two years, Naiomi worked with Ralph Lauren and his design teams to reimagine the original designs of her woven art into a collection of three drops. Drop 2: Color in Motion reflects Naiomi’s love of skateboarding and her artistic evolution into colorful weavings
“There are parallels between weaving and skateboarding. Both are very meditative. You can ride and ride, weave and weave, and just get lost in them.”
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Skate Inspirations
Naiomi first started skateboarding at 5 years old, falling in love with the freedom and healing it offered after experiencing childhood bullying from being born with a cleft palate. Skateboarding became a place of solace, where she could truly be herself—and it remains part of her life today
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For Color in Motion, Naiomi drew on her most colorful weavings and the sportier silhouettes she likes to skate in for inspiration
The Blanket
An homage to traditional Navajo wearing blankets, historically worn as outer layers preceding jackets. The dynamic patterns, including the four-directional cross, diagonal striping, and wedge weave, reflect the evolution of Naiomi’s skills throughout her weaving journey. Each blanket comes with a matching keepsake box
Color & Pattern
Naiomi’s weavings and designs celebrate Navajo patternwork and centuries-old weaving traditions. Traditional motifs hold deep meaning in Navajo heritage and are often recognized as a personal expression of the weaver. This collection reflects the second phase of Naiomi’s weaving journey, as she began to play with new colorways and more contemporary adaptations of traditional Navajo symbols while refining her skill in the craft
Turquoise
One of Naiomi’s favorite colors, honoring the stone’s significance in Navajo jewelry traditions
Cochineal
Naiomi’s vibrant hues recall Navajo dye techniques, where shades of red were created naturally with the cochineal insect
Wedge Weave
The diagonal, zigzag pattern Naiomi uses is a unique weave structure found in traditional Navajo weavings
Naiomi with two original weavings used for inspiration
“This drop celebrates the sportiness we all have in ourselves. I want this collection to inspire you to go out there and feel like you can do anything. I want people to look at this as a chance to see color and not run away from it; instead, wholeheartedly embrace it.”
The Wool Coat
Inspired by Naiomi’s first colorful weavings, two black-and-white striped saddle blankets with a turquoise border (pictured above)
The Wool Coat
Inspired by Naiomi’s first colorful weavings, two black-and-white striped saddle blankets with a turquoise border (pictured above)
The Wool Coat
Inspired by Naiomi’s first colorful weavings, two black-and-white striped saddle blankets with a turquoise border (pictured above)
The Cotton Maxiskirt
Featuring a floral pattern inspired by the globe mallow, a flower found throughout Navajo Nation
LEFT IMAGE
Alice Lister cabochon bracelets
Readda & Ernest Begay Kingman cluster ring
Alice Lister cabochon bracelets
Readda & Ernest Begay Kingman cluster ring
RIGHT IMAGE
Leon & Val Martinez cluster ring
Piki Wadsworth turquoise & coral necklaces
Leon & Val Martinez cluster ring
Piki Wadsworth turquoise & coral necklaces
The Jewelry
Naiomi curated a selection of silver and turquoise jewelry pieces handmade by renowned artisans from the Navajo Nation, Hopi Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, and Zuni Pueblo
Alice Lister cabochon bracelets
Readda & Ernest Begay Kingman cluster ring
Readda & Ernest Begay Kingman cluster ring
The Jewelry
Naiomi curated a selection of silver and turquoise jewelry pieces handmade by renowned artisans from the Navajo Nation, Hopi Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, and Zuni Pueblo
Leon & Val Martinez cluster ring
Piki Wadsworth turquoise & coral necklaces
Piki Wadsworth turquoise & coral necklaces
The Jewelry Is Also Available in Select Stores:
Our Support
A percentage of the purchase price from sales of drop three of the Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses collection will benefit Creative Futures Collective, an organization working to unearth and empower the next generation of creative leaders from disenfranchised and underrepresented communities. Bringing our collaboration full-circle, Creative Futures Collective is the organization that introduced Naiomi to the Ralph Lauren team. Ralph Lauren has proudly worked with Creative Futures Collective since 2022, supporting internships and mentorships for Native youth building their careers in creative fields of discipline.
Learn More
Our Work to Design With Intent
Since our founding, Ralph Lauren’s design ethos has been inspired by the beautiful and interconnected history, arts, crafts, and cultures that make up the fabric of America. As we look to the future, we are evolving our design approach from inspiration to collaboration—focused on honoring heritage craft and those who have sustained these traditions for generations. This means taking meaningful steps to be more inclusive throughout our business, including how we design, make, and market our products.
The Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence program is a key part of this work, inviting artisans to work with our design teams in a mutually beneficial creative partnership. Through collaborations like this, we are working to center the voices of artisans and the communities around them, ensuring they decide how their culture and heritage are used and how their stories are shared.
Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses
Explore the two other drops in our inaugural Artist in Residence collaboration
Drop 1: Love of the Land
Explore Now
Drop 3: Denim Daydream
Explore Now