Ralph Lauren Closes Rugby Line
Photo: Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren's Rugby Label
Wasps and prepsters beware: Ralph Lauren is pulling the plug on his Rugby label.
The brand confirmed with WWD that their Rugby line will cease production and close its 14 stand-alone stores as well as their e-commerce site on February 2, 2013.
With this loss, Ralph Lauren Corp. hopes to grow its retail empire with the launch of new stores, more e-commerce platforms, and increasing in accessory production.
"We think the Ralph Lauren aesthetic translates beautifully into accessories," chief operating officer, Roger Farah, said. "And my guess is over the long term, [accessories are] going to be a very big part of what we do, and that will be more prevalent in Asia and some of the emerging markets than perhaps some of the more mature markets."
There's no denying that we're big fans of accessories, but we're going to miss the Rugby label for its signature colorful stripes and uptown Gossip Girl chic apparel.
Perhaps the Rugby aesthetic will translate into Lauren's new collection of handbags?
