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01 Dec 2025
Polo Ralph Lauren’s latest Artist in Residence collaboration with TÓPA launched on 18 November, marking a powerful moment where American heritage, Indigenous artistry and modern craftsmanship came together with rare clarity. Introduced within Polo Ralph Lauren’s Fall/Holiday 2025 collection, the partnership brought forward a deeply personal design language shaped by Jocy and Trae Little Sky, founders of the Indigenous-led brand TÓPA and proud members of the Oceti Sakowin. Their world—rooted in quillwork, beadwork and leatherwork—became a vibrant part of Ralph Lauren’s evolving narrative of America.
The Artist in Residence program was created as a bridge between the brand’s design teams and artisans who carry forward cultural traditions. With TÓPA as the fourth collaborator, Ralph Lauren expanded its commitment to designing with intention, moving from distant inspiration to shared storytelling. For the Little Skys, whose artistry is grounded in hand-crafted Pow Wow regalia and ceremonial techniques passed through generations, the collection became a way to honour both community and continuity.
Every piece within the collaboration explored a lineage of place, spirit and tradition. The number four—TÓPA in the language of the Oceti Sakowin—came to life as a symbolic anchor, representing the four directions, four seasons, four stages of life and the four colours of red, black, yellow and white. These meanings were woven softly into modern silhouettes across menswear, womenswear and accessories, creating a collection that felt equally grounded in history and present-day relevance. Patterns referenced ancestral motifs; textures were shaped with careful reverence; colour palettes echoed the landscapes of the Northern Plains.
The emotional centre of the collaboration was captured through a short film shot on the ancestral lands of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The film reflected family life, artistry and the rhythm of cultural celebration, offering a rare look into the world that shaped the Little Skys’ creative vision. It underscored the collection’s most important message: that fashion becomes meaningful when it reflects the communities who inspire it.
A percentage of each purchase supported Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, contributing to its Lakota Language and Education Initiative. By investing in language preservation, youth programs and cultural arts, the collaboration extended far beyond clothing into cultural renewal.
The Polo Ralph Lauren x TÓPA collection launched in North America on RalphLauren.com, through the Ralph Lauren app and in select stores, with global availability on 20 November. It also appeared on 4Topa4.com and at Bloomingdale’s locations in New York and Los Angeles. In a season filled with collaborations, this one stood apart for its intention, reverence and the beauty that emerges when craft becomes a bridge between worlds.
