When Ralph Lauren introduced RRL by Ralph Lauren in 1993, it wasn’t simply an extension of the Polo universe — it was a return to something more personal. Named after Lauren’s Colorado ranch, Double RL (derived from the names Ralph & Ricky, Ralph's wife) was conceived as a tribute to the garments and landscapes that shaped early America. Where Polo Ralph Lauren refined Ivy League and sporting traditions, RRL turned its focus toward workwear, the frontier, military uniform and the rugged reality of life lived outdoors.
From its inception, RRL has drawn heavily on the clothing of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries — denim worn in mining towns, chambray shirts from railroad yards, indigo fabrics faded by sun and labour, leather and canvas shaped by necessity. These were not garments designed to make statements; they were built to endure. Their beauty lay in their utility, their wear, their repair.
Ralph Lauren Discussing the Inspiration Behind RRL
In this video Ralph Lauren explains how vintage garments and worn workwear inspired the design philosophy behind RRL by Ralph Lauren.
Central to RRL’s authenticity has been the influence of Doug Bihlmaier, Ralph Lauren’s longtime head of vintage. Over decades, Bihlmaier assembled one of the most respected private collections of American workwear, military garments and Western tailoring. These pieces were not simply admired — they were studied. Patterns were measured, fabrics examined, fading analysed, and construction techniques understood. RRL garments often begin with these archival references before being reinterpreted for modern wear.
Recently, news that Bihlmaier had begun parting with portions of his archive marked the close of an important chapter in American vintage collecting. Yet the significance of that collection endures. Its influence remains woven into RRL’s foundations — visible in the rise of a jean, the weight of a twill, the curve of a pocket or the patina of a button. The archive may disperse, but its imprint is permanent.
Denim perhaps best expresses this philosophy. In its original form, denim was uncompromising — a fabric for miners, mechanics and ranch hands. RRL clothing continues to treat denim with the seriousness it deserves. selvedge construction, historically accurate hardware, careful washes that echo the organic wear patterns of early 20th-century pieces. These details are not cosmetic; they are considered, deliberate, rooted in research.
Military references also run through the line. Early field jackets, fatigue trousers, knit underlayers and canvas accessories were designed with purpose — durability and practicality above all. RRL draws on these silhouettes, preserving their structure while refining their execution. The result feels authentic rather than theatrical; garments that retain their backbone while functioning in contemporary wardrobes.
Then there is the American West — not the romanticised Hollywood version, but the lived-in reality of ranches, open land and long horizons. Prairie shirts, woven belts, rugged leather goods and textured outerwear evoke landscapes where clothing was part of survival. This spirit resonates far beyond America, speaking to anyone drawn to garments shaped by land and labour.
The new SS26 arrivals at The Sporting Lodge continue that lineage. Shirts with textured weaves, denim cut with archival reference, and outerwear that balances ruggedness with refinement all reflect RRL’s commitment to studying the past in order to build for the present. These are not trend-driven pieces; they are garments designed to age, to soften, to gather character.
In a world increasingly driven by speed and disposability, RRL remains something different. It is not nostalgia, nor is it costume. It is a living archive — clothing informed by history, refined by craftsmanship, and worn in the present. And that sense of permanence is precisely what makes it relevant today.
Shop RRL by Ralph Lauren at The Sporting Lodge
The Sporting Lodge offers a curated selection of RRL by Ralph Lauren including heritage denim, Western shirts, rugged outerwear and vintage inspired workwear.
Explore our full range of RRL clothing featuring selvedge denim, chambray shirts, military jackets and classic American workwear pieces.
