What's the difference between brands?

Because of their similar product styles and logos, the Polo Ralph Lauren and U.S. POLO ASSN sports brands are often confused with each other and sometimes mistaken for the same brand. Both companies are American and their branding is in the form of polo players. For this reason, the brands are losing customers and therefore profits. For several years now, there has been a legal battle between them for the right to be the leading manufacturer of sports polos and to share the same logo with the rider.

What is the difference between the brands, what is their history and how the court case is progressing, we tell you in this article.

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The history of the creation of Polo Ralph Lauren

The beginning of the Ralph Lauren empire was laid in 1966. Then the novice designer sold ties of other brands, and then decided to open his own business. The production of ties was an unfamiliar field of work for Lauren, he did not know either fabrics or sizes. As a result, his ties were wider and brighter than those supplied to the market by other companies, and soon found their audience.

A year later, Loren decided to start his own company, asking for help from his brother Jerry and New York manufacturer Norman Hilton, who invested $50,000. The company was called Polo Fashions, Inc. until 1987, and then renamed Polo Ralph Lauren. In 1971, the designer added a debut womenswear collection to the men’s line, and for the first time introduced branding in the form of an embroidered image of a pony and a polo player (which would later be the cause of the U.S. POLO ASSN litigation).

Another year later, Lauren showed the world his signature polos in 24 colors, which soon became an integral feature of American style. By 1997, Polo Ralph Lauren’s sales had reached a billion dollars, and the company’s shares were floated on the stock exchange. The brand, which started from scratch, now sews uniforms for the U.S. Olympic team and is a staple in the premium segment.

The story behind the creation of U.S. POLO ASSN.

U.S. POLO ASSN. – a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA), which has been responsible for tournament rules and safety in the United States and Canada since 1890. The brand was founded in 1981 to fund the association’s activities while truly reflecting the spirit of polo. While the Polo Ralph Lauren logo features one rider, in the case of the U.S. POLO ASSN. there are two. The USPA inscription is present below the picture, and removable labels often say NOT AFFILIATED WITH POLO RALPH LAUREN CORP (“Not affiliated with Polo Ralph Lauren Corp”). Also, Polo Ralph Lauren refers to a premium brand, while U.S. POLO ASSN. is a sports brand and primarily produces durable apparel for polo players, which is chosen even by members of the British royal family.

Litigation between the brands

It’s been more than 30 years since the first lawsuit was filed against U.S. Polo Assn. The brands first met in a courtroom in 1984. Back then, a judge forbade U.S. POLO ASSN. from using names or trademarks in its clothing designs that might cause confusion with the branding of the already famous Polo Ralph Lauren brand. This meant that a logo with riders could be used as long as the logos could not be confused.

After 15 years, Ralph Lauren was again sued by the American Polo Association for starting to publish a magazine with the same name Polo. But the sports organization itself later sued Loren’s brand, claiming that he was trying to monopolize the right to use the word Polo, which is the common name for the sport. The judge, however, noted that the USPA itself was using the word in its trademark, which could also be considered infringement, and ruled against the association.

The polo association later released a perfume and sunglasses, using the logo and repeating ideas that the Ralph Lauren brand had implemented a little earlier. How these proceedings will end is still unknown, but the court is clearly on the side of the Ralph Lauren brand.

Modern collections of Ralph Lauren

In addition to the elegant design in preppy style, PLR clothing attracts the buyer with the image of a bear. He is constantly dressed in different images – from a baseball player to a yachtsman.

The image of a bear is known as much as the logo of a polo player. And the story of its appearance is connected with a funny case: in 1991, Ralph Lauren’s employees gave him and his brother Jerry teddy bears. The toys were dressed in the designer’s favorite style. He liked it so much that he decided to sell them in the stores of his brand. The first run of 200 of the bears sold out in one weekend, so they started to be embroidered on all clothing and continue to do so to this day.

Moreover, sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding had a great influence on the style of the brand, so the color palette became brighter and things became more comfortable. For the same reason, PLR collaborates with Palace and BEAMS brands.

Modern collections U.S. POLO ASSN.

This brand can be found in almost every shopping center, since it produces things aimed at widespread consumption. Products of the brand are really characterized by high quality and comfort. After active use and many washings, products do not lose color, shape and properties.

Currently, in addition to clothing for the whole family, U.S. POLO ASSN. produces accessories (watches, bags, wallets, belts, underwear, socks, gloves, hats, scarves), footwear and home textiles.