Few fashion motifs are as recognizable as Ralph Lauren’s American flag sweater.
The designer, who has spent his illustrious, nearly 60-year career transforming Americana into a global lifestyle brand, is now the first individual to curate an official stamp collection in collaboration with the United States Postal Service as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The “American Icons” commemorative collection features 13 photographs selected from the legendary designer’s archives that embody the layered fabric of the nation and represent the nation’s “shared values” that have defined the American experience, according to a press release.
From a baseball glove used by Jackie Robinson, symbolizing equality, to a weathered pickup truck evoking honesty and hard work, and wild horses representing freedom and independence, the included designs will also be issued in a portfolio, postcard pack and pin card.
The release coincides with the designer’s late-2025, limited-edition postal service fashion collection, which included heritage-inspired pieces honoring the country’s institution.
“A stamp is small. But it’s about what you put on it and whether it means something,” esteemed designer Lauren said.
“I once ran an advertisement that was an image of a foggy barn, no models or clothing, but it represented a feeling and a world. When we see a teddy bear, we’re reminded of childhood, of comfort, of warmth. An old, weathered pickup brings to mind a simpler life, and how the patina of time carries its own kind of beauty,” he continued. “Even when printed on the diminutive size of a stamp, each of these images live large, provoking an ideal that is authentic, enduring, and emanates the spirit of America.”
Born in the Bronx in 1939, Lauren served in the US Army for two years before launching what would become one of fashion’s most influential brands, inspired by Americana lore.
Through labels like Polo Ralph Lauren and RRL, he built an aesthetic rooted in East Coast prep, Western ranch culture, vintage military references, and native heritage. His campaigns created a romanticized vision of American life that has shaped fashion, advertising and popular culture for generations.
A capsule collection will launch at select Ralph Lauren retail stores and Post Office locations, including the Ralph Lauren flag stamp as an American flag sweater, a classic Polo shirt and a ball cap.
Both the stamps and the capsule collection will be available for purchase at select Ralph Lauren retail stores worldwide, at Post Office locations nationwide, and online at RalphLauren.com.
The American Icons stamps will debut at 11 a.m. EST on June 9, with a dedication ceremony at Manhattan’s James A. Farley Post Office Building in Midtown.
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