Fashion & Culture: Diné artist Naiomi Glasses collaborates with Ralph Lauren on Indigenous-inspired collection

The Navajo Nation is the backdrop in a new Ralph Lauren campaign that launched Tuesday.

The fashion giant is collaborating with Diné artist Naiomi Glasses, who is known for her Navajo weaving, as well as philanthropy.

The Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses Collection’s first capsule includes men’s, women’s and unisex apparel and accessories in a color palette inspired by the lands of Dinétah (Navajo Nation), where the Glasses family resides.

The pieces include woven jacquard blanket coats and wraps crafted with the natural colors of undyed wool alongside reinterpretations of Ralph Lauren styles like ranch coats and thicket jackets.

Contemporary adaptations of cherished Navajo symbols like spider woman crosses, four-directional crosses, dragonflies and wedge weave motifs are incorporated throughout the collection, reflecting the tradition, innovation and creativity present throughout Navajo culture.

“Navajo weaving is a craft that has carried on through my family for seven generations and preserving these traditions in new ways has been so inspiring to me as an artist. To now be able to share it with people around the world, as seen through my eyes and brought to life in clothing, is a dream come true,” Glasses said. “It is only through the power of collaboration and Ralph Lauren’s unique program that this collection was made possible, and the best part is that it brings traditional Navajo weaving to a new generation.”

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Glasses is the first artist to take part of the Ralph Lauren’s Artist in Residence program, which invites artisans working with a variety of skill sets and mediums to participate in an immersive collaboration with the company’s creative teams.

The campaign film is created by Ryan RedCorn (Osage) and Daryn Sells (Diné/Navajo) with behind-the-scenes footage captured by Lonnie Begaye (Diné/Navajo).

It features a predominantly Indigenous cast and crew of Glasses’ family, friends and community, set against the striking landscape of Navajo Nation.

The short film is directed by award-winning filmmaker and New Mexico resident Shaandiin Tome (Diné/Navajo).

It details Glasses’ family life, her introduction to the Navajo weaving tradition and sources of inspiration and the making of the collection. The film is available to view on YouTube.

Glasses, an avid turquoise and silver collector, curated a unique selection of handcrafted silver and turquoise jewelry from six artisan families throughout the Navajo Nation, Hopi Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo and Zuni Pueblo, showcased throughout the campaign and profiled in RL Magazine.

According to Ralph Lauren, a percentage of the purchase price from sales of the first drop of the Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses Collection will benefit Change Labs, a Native-led organization focused on fostering the creation of successful Navajo and Hopi small businesses.

“Heritage and tradition are at the center of everything I love — things that encompass both beauty and utility, that are uncontrived and personal and are passed down for generations,” said Lauren. “Bringing the most authentic expression of heritage craft to life means working with those who have created and sustained these timeless traditions for centuries and sharing their stories with the world. That is the opportunity that awaits us — and that will be a valued part of the legacy of our company.”