The One about the Growing Popularity of the Ralph Lauren Polo Bear

Posted onAuthorDennis A. AmithLeave a comment

Ralph Lauren, the American designer who started the Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967 starting off with men’s ties, and would create the menswear “Polo” in 1968.

By 1969, the Manhattan department store Bloomingdales would sell Lauren’s men’s line exclusively and by 1972, he opened the Ralph Lauren’s store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, his first freestanding store.

That same year, he would popularize the mesh short-sleeve cotton shirt in 24 colors and on those shirts, a polo player would become the logo.

Ralph Lauren would have many brands from “Ralph”, “Polo Ralph Lauren”, “Polo Sport”, “Double RL”, “Polo Golf”, “Purple Label”, “Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren”, “RLx”, “Club Monaco”, “American Living”, “Ralph Lauren Home and Paint”, “Ralph Lauren Fragrances, Ralph Lauren Restaurants, etc.

Needless to say, “Ralph Lauren Corporation” would become an iconic brand worldwide and would become a global multi-billion dollar enterprise.

But today, in this modern era, while Ralph Lauren would be known for its signature “polo” logo, a character that has been around since 1991, but many are becoming familiar with as of late, the Ralph Lauren Polo Bear, has become a favorite of Ralph Lauren clothing fans worldwide.

Now I am not going to discuss the history of the Polo Bear, because Grailed, GQ, Complex and even the Ralph Lauren website has detailed information on how it all began.

But know that in 2021, the Polo Bear celebrated its 30th anniversary.  It has become popular for Ralph Lauren, as the Polo Bear has been able to show how versatile thanks to the cross collaborations into other Ralph Lauren brands and with collaboration with other companies.

From a bear squatting before putting at the golf course, a bear kicking a rugby ball, a bear in a tuxedo skiing and of course, the awesome preppy bear, may it be holding a martini, a cup of cocoa, or just styling like no other.

 

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A post shared by Polo Ralph Lauren (@poloralphlauren)

It was a symbol of preppy-ness prior to Kanye sporting Polo Bear when he made his major debut with his album “The College Dropout” in 2004, but from 1991-2001, there was no doubt those who were buying Polo Bear were primarily those who loved the prep culture of Ralph Lauren and knowing that it costs several hundred for their special edition sweaters, it was clothing that people who had money can spend on it.  Status symbol perhaps?  Was it to own one meant being part of the haute bourgeoisie?

But by 2001, Ralph Lauren stopped releasing and selling them.  There are different things you will hear about why the bear’s were not being sold after 2001.  May it be a decrease in sales and the polo bear growing out of favor, a different focus with the company.

Ralph Lauren had said the reason was because the collaboration with Steiff (which created the teddy bears used by Ralph Lauren) ended in 2001, the decision to pull the special-edition sweaters would happen simultaneously.

While I’m sure that was part of it, I’m sure there was more to it.

Personally, I felt that from 2001-2011, America had one of the rockiest years ever and it was a time where money was tight and spending hundreds on a sweater was low on the totem pole for those trying to survive.

On September 11, 2001, the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon was something no one could have fathomed happening in the US, but there were already financial problems happening with Enron collapsing, many Internet companies going bankrupt. There was something going awry economically in the US.

This led to a major market correction that began in 2000 after a decade-long bull market and for the US, financially it was tough times, but nothing would be tougher on a global scale, that what would happen in 2007-2008.  The world would suffer a severe worldwide economic crisis due to the failure of the American Real Estate market and the collapse of financial institutions.

Personally, I can attest to that.  As a Ralph Lauren fan, while I continued to buy Ralph Lauren clothing, for myself, I was afraid of where the country’s economy was going and wondered if I would lose my management job. Sure enough, I would lose my job, but would be able to start my own communications and design business, to see things going very well for years but then to see everything fall again with the market collapse. So, priorities changed for me.  I would still buy Ralph Lauren, but played it safe with staying with mesh polo shirts/sweaters.

Despite how bad things have become, for the loyal Ralph Lauren fans, you have those who would continue to rock their polo bear sweaters and Ralph Lauren clothing. In fact, when Kanye West debuted with the College Dropout” in 2004, the rapper would sport Polo Bear causing interest in obtaining the sweaters (which were hard to come by at that time). Yes, West brought attention to the Polo Bear (and continue to use that influence, especially with his collaborations with Adidas and Gap many years later).

And then you would have those who got into it for the collecting purpose of it, hoping to cash in on the scarcity of Polo Bear merch by selling it on the online auctions.

But there has been demand for the Polo Bear to make its comeback and in 2013, Polo Bear would make its long awaited return 12-years since it last ended.

And the Polar Bear that we knew back then, is considered as “vintage”, and what is released today is available at various pricepoints and owning a Ralph Lauren Polo Bear garment has become much more affordable

And much has changed, with the Polo Bear now appearing in various Ralph Lauren brands.  While the special edition sweaters will still be the most expensive merchandise to buy, with a sweater going for $398 each (count yourself lucky if you find one new for $298 or less), Polo Bear has become more accessible to the public.

Many collect the t-shirts, hoodies and fleece sweaters featuring awesome Polo Bear artwork and the good news is that you can obtain the shirts, the hoodies, gloves, the beanies, coffee mugs for under $50. Even less when RalphLauren.com or a department store is having a major sale.

For under a $100 (or under $150), people can find Polo Bear oxford shirts and various Polo Bear artwork replacing the pony on the mesh custom, custom-slim or slim fit polo shirts.

You can find Polo Bear on blankets, pillow covers, coffee mugs and of course, the fragrances during the holidays.

Now with easy accessibility being a positive, people who still wanted to be part of that crowd that wants to be all inclusive, can still feel special of owning a Polo Bear garment that not everyone is wearing, even though it means paying a high price.

But times have changed.  The richest people in the planet were people who have worked in major corporations and are long time investors.  Today’s millionaires are younger people who were smart enough to invest in real estate, cryptocurrency, stocks and NFTs and capitalize by selling (or have diamond hands and are holding) their appreciated assets.  People who were visionaries and took a chance by building for the tomorrow’s future, may it be for social media or the metaverse.  Or those who became TikTok, YouTube, Twitch or Instagram famous.

Different times indeed.

And with the Internet and popularity of YouTube, people are now having the ability to not just see fashion from their country’s own fashion magazines but also to see fashion worldwide.

There is a brand new demographic of people willing to spend their money.

Now, we are seeing people who did not grow up with a silver spoon in their mouths and are not wealthy, investing in clothing by companies in a variety of price ranges such as Everlane, Uniqlo, A Bathing Ape, BEAMS, Comme des Garcons, MADSTORE UNDERCOVER, Canada Goose, Moncler, The North Face, Balenciaga, Hermes, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc. or have access to awesome thrift shops in their country.

And of course, there are people willing to shell some money for Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bear. As Kanye West influenced many people towards wanting to own a Ralph Lauren Polo Bear, even the top K-Pop Stars are showcasing their love for Polo Bear such as Nayeon and Momo of TWICE, Seulgi and Irene of Red Velvet, Hyunjin of Stray Kids and Astro’s Cha Eun-woo.

It’s one thing when someone says they have one or two expensive pieces (typically the sweaters) in their wardrobe, but having several, that’s hardcore!

And I do believe that is where Ralph Lauren has been showing progress.  Sure, Ralph Lauren will always be the brand of the preppy and for those seeking elegance from a long-standing, powerful brand.  But they also have the brand clout to have awesome collaborations to reach a demographic that they have never had targeted.

From the 2018 collaboration with the web store Palace and the sweater of Polo Bear doing a kickflip and of course, a teddy bear rocking the Palace sweater.

We saw The Rake x Ralph Lauren Bearfoot Negroni Bear Watch collaboration:

And I’m sure there are going to be even more collaborations and limited edition items being sold that many will want to get their hands on.

And while I will always have love in my heart for the signature pony, I can’t help but have even more love for the Polo Bear. Why’s that? Because the Polo Bear is one I can identify with.

If I want to look preppy, I can sport the preppy bear. If I want to look classy, I can sport the tuxedo bear. If I want to enjoy a ride on a sailboat, I have my yacht bear. If I want to enjoy the holidays, I have my cocoa bear and duffle bear. If I want to go golfing, there is golf bear. There are so many versions of Polo Bear, that attract people because of how well the bear is able to be showcased in various styles.

Even when I travel overseas, when I visit a Ralph Lauren store, what catches my immediately is the Polo Bear sweater and how classy they look.

In a video posted on TikTok, Ralph Lauren even asked the RLx Team USA on what is their favorite, the signature pony or the polo bear? Their answer… Many selected polo bear.

@ralphlaurenIn a game of “this or that”, we asked our ##RLxTeamUSA athletes a series of quick fire questions. ##PoloRalphLauren♬ original sound – Ralph Lauren

So, popular for the winter holidays that Ralph Lauren had campaigns promoting polo bear:

@ralphlaurenIn celebration of our ##RLHoliday collection, our beloved ##PoloBear is shared across different ##PoloRLStyle sensibilities and moments. ##PoloRalphLauren ##PassItOn♬ Pass It On Holiday Edition – Ralph Lauren

Even GQ Germany created a video featuring the Polo Bear:

And of course, every holiday season, you also get a video featuring the Ralph Lauren Polo Bear fragrances:

You have people of all ages posting their Polo Bear finds at thrift stores:

@kristenmarievannessWould ya just look at em!? ##vintage ##polobear ##ralphlauren ##reseller ##rare ##fyp ##foryou ##posh ##depop♬ original sound – Kristen Marie Van Ne

People knowing the absolute coolness of the Polo Bear:

@stringbeanboy13NO ONE has more drip than him and that’s a fact ##polo ##polobear ##prep ##ralphlauren ##greenscreen♬ In The Mood – Glenn Miller

@josie_moore_I’m never taking this off… ##polobear ##ralphlauren ##MyCostume♬ original sound – Josie

@conallsraimentsTag a Ralph Lauren Lover 🐻 ##ralphlauren ##polobear ##kanyewest ##yeazy ##obsessedwithit ##dripcheck ##mensfashion♬ Summer 21 (feat. RassTokyo) – Dreya Mac

@kndy_desu##RalphLauren ##polobear ##unboxing ##styke ##fashion♬ What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Harry Connick Jr.

But the popularity of the Polo Bear is going to grow. I do feel that Ralph Lauren has found ways of tapping into a demographic that they have never targeted until these last few years.  But while there have been improvements, I hope to see more collaborations because more can be done.

For the sweaters, the Polo Bear from the ’90s to early 2000’s and the Polo Bear today, look much different.  You have even more details today with the bear and its clothing.

But one thing I want to see is consistency.  The craftmanship of the sweaters from that time period seemed to be much better.  Today, you have sweaters that are not all wool or cotton, costing $398, while sweaters that have no wool, no special fibers, some now with cotton and polyester costing the same.  So, for those new to the Ralph Lauren Polo Bear, you have a wide-range of choices today.  But if you are going to buy a sweater, check the details to find out what it’s made of and also do your research, because you may find yourself paying more for something that should have been sold for much less.

But just remember, Ralph Lauren Polo Bear sweaters do hold a solid value if you sell it pre-owned.  As long as you took care of it and cleaned it correctly, don’t be surprised if you were able to recoup more than half or 75% from what you paid for it.  I would imagine the same would go for the home accessories as well.

 

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There is so much to discuss, but I will end with this.

I will always have love for Ralph Lauren clothing and I look forward to seeing how the company does from 2022 and onward. And what Polo Bear sweater releases are planned.

I will be doing reviews for Ralph Lauren and Polo Bear-related clothing, especially sweaters in the New Year, so keep checking back!

 

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