Take a look at the new Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs brand and you’ll see some Atlanta vibes in the details. Polo’s Oak Bluffs collection was designed in association with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, two of Atlanta’s historically black colleges.
The collection traces its roots back to 2022, when Polo launched its celebration of the heritage and legacy of dressing at historically Black colleges and universities.
Ralph Lauren himself described the collection as “a story of the American dream,” emphasizing Oak Bluffs’ unique history and sense of community as an inspiration for creating a space where people can be “free, uncontrived, joyful, and truly at home.” The project reflects his brand’s commitment to expanding its narrative to include diverse American stories, moving beyond traditional Ivy League or Western aesthetics to honor Black cultural heritage.
Polo’s Oak Bluffs Collection: Designers
The collection was conceptualized and designed by Morehouse alum James M. Jeter, who made history last year as Ralph Lauren’s first Black Creative Director in the brand’s 57-year history.
You can see Jeter’s played a key role in shaping the collection’s aesthetic, blending Atlanta’s HBCU collegiate motifs with the relaxed, maritime-inspired style of Martha’s Vineyard, where Jeter lives now.
The campaign was directed by Cole Brown, an author, director, and producer with personal ties to Martha’s Vineyard, with photography by Nadine Ijewere and video footage by Azariah Bjørvig, both of whom also worked on the 2022 Morehouse and Spelman campaign.
Polo’s Oak Bluffs Collection: What to Know
The Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection, launched on July 24, 2025, is a limited-edition capsule that celebrates the cultural and historical significance of Oak Bluffs, a coastal town on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, known as a haven for Black communities for over a century.
The collection honors the town’s legacy as a place of joy, community, and Black excellence, blending coastal leisurewear with collegiate style inspired by HBCUs.
It is part of Ralph Lauren’s Design With Intent efforts, which aim to create products that authentically reflect American heritage and diverse cultural narratives.
The collection is accompanied by a campaign that includes a short documentary, A Portrait of the American Dream: Oak Bluffs, which was released on YouTube on July 24, 2025. Here it is below.
The documentary will be screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival on August 8, 2025, followed by a panel discussion on narrative change and racial healing.
The campaign incorporates archival footage and interviews with Oak Bluffs residents, historians, and HBCU alumni, highlighting the town’s role as a “home away from home.” Ralph Lauren also partnered with The Cottagers, Inc., a nonprofit of 100 Black women homeowners on Martha’s Vineyard dedicated to cultural and architectural preservation, and continues its support for the United Negro COLLEGE Fund to fund HBCU scholarships.
Where To Buy
The collection is available globally through RalphLauren.com, the Ralph Lauren App, select Ralph Lauren stores, and the Follett campus bookstores at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, while supplies last.
Final Word
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