The iconic US Brand Ralph Lauren is set to return as the official outfitter of the Australian Open for the second year in a row. Last year, the announcement marked the third tennis Grand Slam to be added to the Ralph Lauren sponsorship portfolio after Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. This time around, the company is back designing pieces for all on-court officials, including ball kids, lines people and chair umpires. Game on.
Image: Ralph Lauren
“For over 50 years, the Polo brand has embodied a spirit of sporty elegance and we are thrilled to partner with the Australian Open … The Ralph Lauren style and sophistication will bring a fresh new look to the Australian Open and the uniform designs reflect the contemporary, playful and premium AO brand,” Ralph Lauren Chief Innovation and Branding Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, David Lauren said.
For this year’s Australian Open, Ralph Lauren has not only designed for all on-court officials but has also created the Official Towel for the event and will introduce a commemorative Australian Open capsule collection for the first time ever.
Image: Ralph Lauren
In a statement Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said that “We are delighted to welcome Ralph Lauren to the Australian Open family and proud to partner with this prestigious global brand who have a role in some of the world’s biggest sporting events. Ralph Lauren has defined a distinct sense of style for more than 50 years and their fresh and modern style perspective is a perfect fit for the Australian Open.”
As this year’s Official Outfitter of the Australian Open in 2022 (AO22), Ralph Lauren outfits up to 4,000 staff, including all on-court officials and ball kids, as well as on-site staff. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, the AO22 uniforms are made with sustainable materials like recycled polyester, recycled nylon and responsibly-produced cotton. These will be combined with performance-enhancing features such as stretch, moisture-wicking properties and even UV protection.
The commemorative collection will feature iconic Ralph Lauren styles done in a bold colour palette inspired by the tournament’s fresh energy and playful spirit. The collection consists of a 32-unit apparel range for men and women as well as an 18-unit apparel range for children. The range includes polo shirts, jackets, headwear, plus 10 accessories including hats, sneakers and bags.
Image: Ralph Lauren
Best of all, the Ralph Lauren Australian Open Collection will be available for purchase in Polo Ralph Lauren retail stores and online globally as well as on-site at the Ralph Lauren Australian Open retail pop-up stores.
Ralph Lauren’s iconic Create-Your-Own program will be also available exclusively on-site at AO22 pop-up stores. Customers will be able to purchase and even customize a selection of classic Ralph Lauren styles with their name or initials with specially designed motifs incorporating Polo icons and AO22 exclusives.
Additionally, this year Ralph Lauren is launching a new partnership with Tennis Australia. The AO Glam Slam is presented by Ralph Lauren. This is an international community tennis event sanctioned by the Gay Lesbian Tennis Alliance and will be held in Melbourne during the Australian Open. The tournament is designed to celebrate and promote equality and diversity and the events of its final will take place during the Australian Open finals weekend. With Ralph Lauren’s support, the AO22 will celebrate and promote the importance of equality with an array of exciting initiatives and activations.
Image: Ralph Lauren
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