For the fourth year running, the match made in heaven that is the Australian Open and Ralph Lauren are continuing their partnership, with Ralph Lauren returning as the Official Outfitter of the Australian Open for 2024.
Fresh off the heels of their first New York Fashion Week show in years, the House are designing garments and accessories for tournament officials. The Ralph Lauren Australian Open uniforms will be inspired by the intoxicating energy and playful spirit of the tournament, and will be worn by more than 4,000 staff for the occasion, including all on-court officials, AO ball-kids and chair umpires.
Ralph Lauren have also designed a new series of commemorative towels for the AO24 – which will be available exclusively on Ralph Lauren's Australian website from 12 October 2023 – and a full capsule collection of garments and accessories that will be released across their stores in November this year.
The collection will feature the bold and iconic Ralph Lauren colour palette, which takes inspiration from the tournament itself. It will include polo shirts, jackets, headwear and accessories.
Ralph Lauren’s commitment to sustainability continues with the use of a fabric made from yarn derived from recycled plastic bottles, and 100% recycled polyester and cotton, each of which has functional performance features like stretch, moisture-wicking properties and UV protection.
They'll also be running a Create-Your-Own customisation program on-site in Melbourne at AO24, where guests can purchase and customise garments with their name or initials by embroidering or printing a selection of classic Ralph Lauren styles. Each design will incorporate Polo icons and tennis-inspired motifs.
Tennis fans at home will also be able to participate online.
The House has a long history intertwined with the sport – working with Grand Slam tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open in the past.
"For over 50 years, the Polo brand has embodied a spirit of sporty elegance and we are thrilled to partner with the Australian Open," Ralph Lauren Chief Innovation and Branding Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, David Lauren said on the initial partnership back in 2021.
"The Australian Open is well known for its energy and personality and is a natural alignment for our brand as we continue our commitment to the world of sports and reaching consumers through their areas of passion."
