Is Ralph Lauren a premium or luxury brand?

[Pink Jazz]

I was wondering, do you consider Ralph Lauren to be a premium or luxury brand?

Consider that Ralph Lauren has a bunch of different sub-labels, I don't think one descriptor for all of the brands is accurate.

I would consider the main Polo Ralph Lauren line (aka Blue Label) to be a premium brand. However, the flagship Purple Label line for men as well as the "Collection" line for women I would consider to be true luxury brands. On the other end, I would consider the Chaps line (which is designed to compete with IZOD) to be a mid-range brand. The Lauren Ralph Lauren line (aka Green Label) I would consider a semi-premium brand.

How would you consider Ralph Lauren, either as a whole or for each sub-label?

 

[shortylickens]

No.
Because I can afford it.

 

[zinfamous]

Can you buy it at JC Penny's or Target?

 

[shortylickens]

Can you buy it at JC Penny's or Target?

How would you know? They all closed years ago!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Ralph Lauren is a suckers brand, it's the same cheap garbage made in China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India that Kohl's sells for 1/20th the price. It's neither premium nor luxury, it's Marketing for Dummies.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Neither. They've saturated their name brand so much that most people don't know which line is good or bad without googling.

 

[Pink Jazz]

Kohl's and Belk sell the Chaps brand. Lauren and Polo are sold mainly at Macy's and Dillard's. Purple Label and Collection are sold mainly at specialty upscale stores. There is also Black Label, which slots in between Polo and Purple Label/Collection (not sure where it is sold).

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Neither. They've saturated their name brand so much that most people don't know which line is good or bad without googling.

Most people either don't give a shit or they understand that it doesn't matter. A Ralph Lauren polo shirt that sells for $55 is made by a kid in a sweatshop making 12 cents an hour and with labor, materials, shipping, taxes, etc etc probably costs the manufacturer about $4 to get into the country. A different Ralph Lauren polo shirt that sells for $85 is made by a kid in a sweatshop making 12 cents an hour and with labor, materials, shipping, taxes, etc etc probably costs the manufacturer about $4.12 to get into the country. There's no difference between lines other than perception and marketing. A $20 shirt is not made by kids in sweatshops while a $90 shirt is made by elves in hollow trees. They're all made by the same kids in the same sweatshops in the same 3rd world countries and are priced/advertised differently to allow the manufacturer to cover every possible price point.

 

[Zeze]

Neither, and I'm not even a brand snob. I'm a boring ass dad.

 

[Zeze]

I'm bit puzzled as to why OP mentioned the word 'luxury' to RL.

Luxury? Luxury is Vasace ($1000+ shirts), Armani, etc.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Most people either don't give a shit or they understand that it doesn't matter. A Ralph Lauren polo shirt that sells for $55 is made by a kid in a sweatshop making 12 cents an hour and with labor, materials, shipping, taxes, etc etc probably costs the manufacturer about $4 to get into the country. A different Ralph Lauren polo shirt that sells for $85 is made by a kid in a sweatshop making 12 cents an hour and with labor, materials, shipping, taxes, etc etc probably costs the manufacturer about $4.12 to get into the country. There's no difference between lines other than perception and marketing. A $20 shirt is not made by kids in sweatshops while a $90 shirt is made by elves in hollow trees. They're all made by the same kids in the same sweatshops in the same 3rd world countries and are priced/advertised differently to allow the manufacturer to cover every possible price point.

It doesn't matter but the OP's original question was if it is considered a premium or luxury brand, which is based off of perception.

 

[Pink Jazz]

Note that Purple Label is made in Italy or England.

 

[KeithTalent]

Nah it's fast casual, like TGI Fridays.

KT

 

[IronWing]

I’ve seen Ralph Loren at Goodwill but not at the upmarket thrift stores so I guess that puts the brand in with Tough Skins and Geranimals. Izod is so 80s, totally market has-beens, might as well sell it at Cracker Barrel.

 

[TallBill]

Do not give any shits

 

[shortylickens]

Do not give any shits

Not even a baby shit? Or a hamster shit? Thats pretty tiny.

 

[Pink Jazz]

Izod is so 80s, totally market has-beens, might as well sell it at Cracker Barrel.

Don't confuse IZOD with Lacoste. The IZOD Advantage Polo is one of the best selling polo shirts on Amazon.

 

[SKORPI0]

 

[DigDog]

#lolpremium
Y'all need some Jesus Italy in your life.

 

[preCRT]

You should buy clothing based on how each item looks on you and how comfortable it is. Anything else means you are a sucker and/or an idiot.

 

[FeuerFrei]

You should buy clothing based on how each item looks on you and how comfortable it is. Anything else means you are a sucker and/or an idiot.

Maybe. There ARE intangibles sometimes though. They might make paying up worthwhile. Hmm....

Really though, I wish all products were priced according to manufacturing cost, not worth to consumer.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Ralph Lauren is an actual guy. I saw an interview with him a few years ago on his ranch. I seriously think he's one of those people that had a good name, good marketing and as the name became a brand, he just sat back and raked it in. I have a few shirts from RL, but his stuff isn't my favorite at all. There are better brands for less money out there....and better brands for more money. Skorpio's chart showing them middle of the road is probably pretty accurate.

 

[preCRT]

Ralph Lauren is an actual guy. I saw an interview with him a few years ago on his ranch. I seriously think he's one of those people that had a good name, good marketing and as the name became a brand, he just sat back and raked it in.

His real name is Ralph Lifshitz.

 

[lxskllr]

His real name is Ralph Lifshitz.

Should have sold boutique toilet paper.

 

[sdifox]

I wear anything I can afford. Except IZOD.