Ralph Lauren controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile5 entries
2020
Ralph Lauren responds to use of fraternity symbols on chinos
Company response
Ralph Lauren apologized and said it had stopped selling a pair of chinos after complaints that fraternity symbols appeared on the pants. The fraternity's legal representative said the organization was investigating and alleged that the symbols had been used without consent. The company's response followed the complaints about the symbols on the chinos.
Company response
Apology — Ralph Lauren
the company deeply apologized
Remediation — Ralph Lauren
it had taken immediate action to stop selling them
Source excerpt
The Ralph Lauren Corp. has apologized for using a black fraternity's symbols on a pair of chinos following complaints, and said they are no longer available for sale.
A spokeswoman for the fashion brand told NBC News in a statement Monday that the use of the symbols on the chinos was "an oversight" for which the company deeply apologized and that it had taken immediate action to stop selling them.
Andrea Hence Evans, a legal representative for the fraternity, said Tuesday that her firm was investigating and that the organization was "shocked and appalled" that Ralph Lauren would violate the fraternity's trademarks without consent.
2020
Ralph Lauren apologizes and removes pants bearing Phi Beta Sigma lettering
Company response
Ralph Lauren said the use of Phi Beta Sigma symbols on its pants was an oversight, apologized, and said it was removing the product from its sales channels and reviewing its protocols.
Stated objective. To help ensure that the incident does not happen again.
Company response
Apology — Ralph Lauren
The use of these symbols on our products was an oversight for which we deeply apologize.
Remediation — Ralph Lauren
We are immediately taking action to remove the product from our sales channels.
Remediation — Ralph Lauren
this has prompted us to take another review of our protocols to help ensure that this does not happen again
Source excerpt
The use of these symbols on our products was an oversight for which we deeply apologize. We are immediately taking action to remove the product from our sales channels.
Within three hours of us reporting on the story, an official Ralph Lauren spokesperson reached out to Watch The Yard and told us that they are taking the pants off of all sales channels
There was also an apology from Ralph Lauren, saying they would remove the chino pants.
2020
Ralph Lauren sues Factory Mutual over insurance coverage
Lawsuit filed
Ralph Lauren sued its insurer, Factory Mutual Insurance, alleging that the insurer tried to limit coverage for pandemic-related business losses. The allegations are reported as claims in the lawsuit, not as established findings.
Source excerpt
When Ralph Lauren filed a claim for its financial losses resulting from the pandemic, its insurer Factory Mutual Insurance allegedly attempted to limit coverage.
Ralph Lauren is suing its insurer after the American fashion label was barred from claiming the full amount of its business loss insurance.
1990
Reported affair involving Ralph Lauren and Kim Nye
Media reports and Michael Gross's 2003 unauthorized biography alleged that Ralph Lauren had a prolonged extramarital relationship with model Kim Nye, who appeared in a Safari fragrance campaign. The allegation was a personal controversy involving the founder rather than an allegation of corporate misconduct.
1984
Polo Ralph Lauren versus U.S. Polo Association trademark dispute
The Ralph Lauren company became involved in trademark litigation concerning polo-player imagery and the use of the Polo name by the U.S. Polo Association. The dispute illustrates the legal importance of the equestrian logo and the Polo naming system to the brand's identity.