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00:00:00 – 00:16:13
The video focuses on identifying vintage Ralph Lauren clothing by exploring various sub-brands and their historical contexts, forms of identification, and collectibility. Josh discusses the cultural significance of Ralph Lauren, especially its 90s streetwear prominence, mentioning iconic items like the polar bear, snow beach, and stadium collections. Key sub-brands highlighted include Polo Sport, Chaps, Polo Jeans, Denim & Supply, Polo Ralph Lauren Black Label, and Polo Country. He explains their distinct characteristics, production timelines, and how they can be identified as vintage through label and tag analysis. Josh also provides tips on dating items by examining the consistency of tags, changes in production locations, and the use of catalogs and forums for further verification. The video concludes with an offer for personalized assistance and appreciation for the audience's engagement.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Josh begins by introducing the topic of identifying vintage Ralph Lauren clothing, highlighting the brand’s significant history and impact on fashion, especially from the 90s when it was embraced by hip-hop and urban cultures. He underscores the collectible nature of Ralph Lauren pieces, mentioning iconic items like the polar bear, snow beach, and stadium collection. Josh notes the complexity of identifying vintage pieces due to the numerous sub-brands under Ralph Lauren, such as Polo Sport, Polo Ralph Lauren, and others. He plans to focus on major points to aid viewers in identifying vintage items, starting with Polo Sport, which launched in 1992 and boosted Ralph Lauren’s streetwear credibility.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses various iconic Ralph Lauren brands and their collectibility. Key points include:
1. **Polo Sport**: Popular in the 90s, discontinued in the early 2000s, but recently reintroduced as a limited throwback collection. Vintage items are identifiable by older tags and are highly desirable in the secondary market.
2. **Chaps Ralph Lauren**: Introduced in 1978 to combat counterfeits, lasted through the late 90s. Known for bold colors and graphics, the line is vintage and no longer shares branding with Ralph Lauren despite being under the same parent company.
3. **Polo Jeans**: Active from the mid-90s to 2006. Though not all pieces are technically vintage, they are generally considered as such due to their association with the 90s and early 2000s. The speaker expresses personal fondness for pieces from this label.
These brands, each with their unique histories and aesthetics, maintain significant collectibility and desirability.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the focus is on various Ralph Lauren sub-brands and their collectibility. The speaker highlights a denim jacket with an American flag, touching on the significance of sub-brands like Polo Sport and Polo Jeans, which are now considered vintage. The discussion moves to the discontinued but desirable “Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren” line, known for its unique bohemian and military-inspired designs from 2011 to 2016.
Another notable sub-brand mentioned is the “Polo Ralph Lauren Black Label,” a more accessible yet luxurious line that existed for about ten years before its discontinuation in 2014. This line has some collectible pieces despite not being heavily branded. The most complex and popular sub-brand discussed is “Polo Ralph Lauren” and “Polo Country,” specifically noting the authenticity of Polo Country tags and the differences in labeling over time to help identify vintage items.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, the focus is on identifying the age and authenticity of Ralph Lauren items based on their labels and tags. Unlike Levi’s, which frequently changed their internal branding and care tags, Ralph Lauren did not alter their main line labels significantly, making it harder to date their items. Key points discussed include:
1. **Green Label Change**: Early to mid-90s saw a change from “Country” to “Polo Country.”
2. **Polo Ralph Lauren Tags**: The internal tags have remained mostly unchanged, except for a recent update in the last five to six years.
3. **Production Dates**: Newer Ralph Lauren pieces include production dates on the tags, which can help determine the item’s age.
4. **Tag Quantity Guideline**: Older pieces generally have fewer side tags, with items having no production date and fewer tags likely being from before 2016, possibly as far back as the early to mid-2000s.
The presenter uses examples from their collection to demonstrate these points, showing the differences in tags to help viewers date their Ralph Lauren garments accurately.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses identifying the age of vintage Ralph Lauren garments. They explain that older pieces typically have fewer tags, with the oldest pieces having just one tag. They note that items made before the mid-80s were produced in the U.S. or Canada, and modern pieces often have printed tags instead of fabric ones. The segment also covers specific collections like the Polar Bear and Snow Beach lines, indicating how newer reproductions differ from originals based on tag numbers and production quality. Finally, the speaker suggests using old catalogs and forums to date items that were made for specific fashion seasons.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses strategies for determining the age and vintage nature of iconic pieces that may only have been produced for a limited time. They acknowledge the complexity of doing so due to the extensive range of SKUs and sub-brands within a large international brand, making it difficult to establish definitive rules. However, the speaker offers to assist further by inviting viewers to email pictures for more personalized help. The segment concludes with a thank you message, a reminder to like, comment, and subscribe, and a sign-off.