Recognising Genuine Ralph Lauren: An Authentication Guide
The Ralph Lauren pony is probably the most counterfeited logo in the history of ready-to-wear: from markets all over the world to online platforms, fake polo shirts number in the millions. Here is how to spot a genuine piece.
At NB08, every piece is checked and authenticated in our boutique before it goes on sale. The effective checks are set out below.
Why check the authenticity of a Ralph Lauren piece?
Enormous volume, a logo that looks simple: copies flood the pre-owned market. The good news: the authentic pony has precise details that counterfeiters systematically get wrong.
The embroidered pony: the details that count
On a genuine piece, the player's mallet is fine and distinct, the horse's tail separate, the legs well defined and the embroidery dense, with no fabric showing through. Copies produce a 'blob' pony: a thick mallet, merged shapes, loose threads. Always compare in macro.
Labels and consistency between lines
Woven neck label (Polo Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport, RRL… depending on the line), crisp and consistent with the era of the piece; composition label with style numbers. Watch out for impossible combinations (a modern label on a 'vintage' piece). Engraved pearlescent buttons on recent polo shirts.
Materials and finishing
Dense cotton piqué that holds its shape, full-bodied knits, clean shoulder seams, finished side vents. A thin piqué that loses its shape at the first wash is not Ralph Lauren.
Price and seller: the warning signs
Bundles of 'new' polo shirts at rock-bottom prices are the classic scam. Ask for close-up photos of the pony and labels.
Checklist: authenticating a Ralph Lauren piece in 7 points
- Detailed pony: fine mallet, separate tail
- Dense embroidery with no fabric showing
- Line label consistent with the era
- Style numbers present
- Quality buttons
- Dense piqué/knit that holds its shape
- Realistic price and reliable seller
Buy authenticated Ralph Lauren at NB08
All our Ralph Lauren pieces are checked and authenticated in our boutique before they go on sale.
