The Polo Ralph Lauren X Palace Collaboration Will Drop Imminently

Last week, three billboards cropped up in Tokyo’s Shibuya district displaying Polo Ralph Lauren’s signature pony-riding jockey above Palace Skateboards’s italic logo. Cue a streetwear fan meltdown as social media went into overdrive trying to decipher what the guerrilla-style advertising meant in terms of a potential collaboration.

Typically, both brands remained quiet. Then, four days later, Palace and Ralph Lauren posted the hybrid motif on their respective Instagram accounts with the promise that a collection was “coming soon”. The hashtag #PalaceRalphLauren started quickly gathering a host of inventive logo amalgamations that are also worth scrolling through.

“Palace Ralph Lauren is a timeless collection that represents a love letter from a young London skateboard company to their favourite brand in the universe,” the post continued. Accordingly, the menswear, which will include tops, trousers, outerwear and accessories, is inspired by the Polo items that Palace founder Lev Tanju and co-owner Gareth Skewis have worn over the years. “It’s the only brand that you can wear to a board meeting, a funeral and go to the football in – and all in the same day,” Tanju told Business of Fashion.

The capsule, which will sit in line with Palace’s usual price points, is not part of a brand expansion plan, but is born out of the duo’s love and respect for Polo Ralph Lauren and a mission to keep Palace dynamic and fun. “Collaborations – it’s what people do now, it’s like seasons,” said Skewis. “For me and Lev, this is a massive moment for us and a real pinnacle.”

Indeed, the collection follows the drop of its autumn/winter 2018 line in collaboration with Oakley, and its tie-up with adidas for Wimbledon, which was worn by Serena Williams, over the summer. Where Supreme was always the streetwear brand that snapped up brands to pump out cult drops with, Palace is now putting itself firmly in the much-hyped arena. Ralph Lauren, meanwhile, is following all-American heavyweights such as Tommy Hilfiger, which long ago recognised the profile boost that teaming up with younger, social media-respected brands and influencers can afford.