Ralph Lauren celebrates 50 years in Japan with a Tokyo collector festival
Polo Ralph Lauren is holding its first PoloFest in Tokyo from 23 to 25 October 2026, marking 50 years since the brand entered Japan. The three-day event at Jing Harajuku brings together collectors for an archival exhibition, a vintage marketplace and talks. Ralph Lauren opened its first Tokyo location in 1976 and now operates more than 150 stores in the country.
PoloFest marks the brand’s first collectors-focused gathering in Tokyo, scheduled for 23–25 October 2026 at Jing Harajuku in Shibuya. Its program combines an archive display reaching back to Polo Ralph Lauren’s 1967 origins, a vintage market with international dealers, and panel discussions.
The brand’s Japanese history began in 1976 with a Seibu department-store shop in Ikebukuro and a Tokyo Prince Hotel runway presentation. Japan’s “Ametora” movement—American Traditionalist style adapted locally—helped broaden uptake. Today Ralph Lauren runs more than 150 Japanese stores, including an Omotesando flagship.
The event may strengthen ties among global collectors and Japanese fashion consumers, giving vintage sellers and archivists a visible platform. It could also boost local retail and tourism around Harajuku and Shibuya during the three days, while reinforcing Ralph Lauren’s cultural relevance amid renewed interest in collegiate styles. For consumers, it may encourage more appreciation of archival clothing and resale, though the event’s niche focus likely limits broader societal effects.