Ralph Lauren Collaborates with Gee's Bend Quilters

Fashion house Ralph Lauren has launched a new collection inspired by the unique quilting tradition of Gee's Bend, a rural community in Alabama. This marks the fifth installment of Ralph Lauren's Artist in Residence program, which emphasizes direct collaboration with artists over aesthetic inspiration alone.

The collection showcases traditional Gee's Bend patterns and materials, particularly denim, historically valued for its durability in workwear. It features limited-edition products including quilts, pillows, jackets, and tote bags, created in partnership with notable Gee's Bend craftswomen, such as Claudia Pettway Charley and Loretta Pettway Bennett. Their work is recognized for geometric designs and improvisational style, reflecting the community's history of resilience and creating beauty from limited resources.

For centuries, women in Gee's Bend have used fabric scraps to create warm blankets, and their distinct style has gained recognition in the art world, with exhibitions at institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ralph Lauren's initiative aims to introduce this textile art form to a wider audience and acknowledge its significance in American design history.

The Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence program focuses on more equitable collaborations, responding to past criticisms of cultural appropriation. Previous iterations have partnered with artists from Indigenous communities. Five percent of the collection's proceeds will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative to support low-income families in Alabama, providing direct benefit to the Gee's Bend community and the state.