Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony campaign, the brand’s global initiative in the fight against cancer, is proof that doing good is always in style.
Since 2000, the luxury fashion house has been committed to finding a cure for cancer and providing quality, consistent treatment for all. And this year, its commitment is bigger than ever. Ralph Lauren has promised US$25 million to the cause – its largest single funding commitment to date.
The funding will go towards expanding and establishing a handful of Ralph Lauren cancer centres and will benefit institutions with a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. This includes Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Ralph Lauren Center, as well as three additional locations that have yet to be confirmed.
The programs funded through this effort will focus on providing patient navigation services, increased screenings, early diagnosis and treatment. The brand believes this will help to break down barriers that prevent underserved and vulnerable communities from accessing high-quality medical care.
A personal cause
Like many, Ralph Lauren, Executive Chair and Chief Creative Officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation and Chair of the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, has been touched by cancer. He had a brain tumour removed in his 40s. And soon after, he met Washington Post fashion editor Nina Hyde who openly shared her battle against breast cancer.
The two became quick friends and Lauren made a commitment to focus his philanthropic efforts on improving cancer care from that day forward. He went on to co-found the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in her honour.
“When someone we love has cancer, it affects all of us – our families, our friends, our communities.” – Ralph Lauren
“When someone we love has cancer, it affects all of us – our families, our friends, our communities,” Lauren says. “While we have made significant progress and advancements in the fight against cancer, barriers to care and access persist, particularly in medically underserved and vulnerable communities.
“It is our hope that, together, we can strengthen avenues of support and generate meaningful change for families and communities who need it most. For over 30 years, this has been my personal commitment. And now, joined by so many dedicated partners, we envision a world where cancer outcomes improve for everyone and survivors thrive.”
Fuelled by purpose
For the 2022 Pink Pony campaign, Ralph Lauren employees around the globe will be coming together to volunteer and fundraise. Along with global marketing initiatives, Pink Pony branded product capsules benefitting the Pink Pony Fund will also be released. This year, a new Pink Pony Oxford shirt is slated to launch and, true to fashion, Ralph Lauren is donating 100 per cent of the Oxford’s proceeds to an international network of cancer charities.
The beloved US brand debuts a new Pink Pony collection to support the initiative each year. In 2020, Ralph Lauren launched a special 20th anniversary collection. It featured an assortment of updated Polo icons with fresh graphics and details, all set against a palette of pink, navy, white and grey, with proceeds from each going towards the fight against cancer.
Where the fashion industry was once fuelled only by style and less by substance, today’s landscape demands a different approach. Apparel brands must do more than simply sell clothes. They must stand for something. A true pioneer, Ralph Lauren is one of the first companies to utilise its logo in support of cause-based initiatives. The Polo Player has been used for decades as a global symbol to help raise millions of dollars for philanthropic causes and social impact programs.
Saddle up for a cause this October and purchase a crisp Pink Pony Oxford shirt for US$128 to join Ralph Lauren in the charge against cancer. It’s one purchase you can actually feel good about. To learn more, please visit RalphLauren.com/pinkpony.com.
The history of Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony campaign
1989 Ralph Lauren co-founded the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in honour of his close friend and Washington Post fashion editor Nina Hyde.
1994 Ralph Lauren designed the first logo for the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Fashion Targets Breast Cancer initiative, leading the fashion industry in its support of breast cancer research.
2000 Ralph Lauren Corporation launched the first-ever Pink Pony Campaign, a global initiative in the fight against cancer, with a pink version of its Polo Pony icon.
2003 Ralph Lauren partnered with the nation’s leading cancer centre, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Harlem, New York City.
2014 Ralph Lauren Corporation partnered with The Royal Marsden, the largest and most comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, to develop a world-class research facility, the Ralph Lauren Centre for Breast Cancer Research.
2020 Ralph Lauren worked with its longstanding network of international cancer institutions to support those especially vulnerable to COVID-19. The luxury fashion house provided donations, meals and products to frontline workers, families in need and patients fighting cancer.
2022 As part of the brand’s ongoing efforts to combat cancer globally, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation announces US$25 million in new grant funding to expand or establish five Ralph Lauren cancer centres. It also launches a new Pink Pony Oxford shirt in support of the Pink Pony campaign, with 100 per cent of the proceeds directed towards a network of cancer charities.
