Where Are Polo Ralph Lauren Clothes Made? Tracing Threads

Polo Ralph Lauren just hit $2.1 Billion in the third quarter of Fiscal 2025. Shocking? But wait until I tell you Where are Polo Ralph Lauren clothes Made!

This is far from the half-baked articles you’ve read out there. I had to gather multiple resources, filter out the BS, and ensure this would be of great value to you.

I’m a researcher by heart and an entrepreneur by experience. I’ve been in the t-shirts manufacturing industry for a decade, heading JaceApparel. Worked with huge corporations and know what it takes to scale to Polo Ralph’s margins.

In this guide, I go deep into:

Polo Ralph Lauren’s History and Growth
Where Are Polo Ralph Lauren Clothes Made
A Look Inside Polo Ralph Lauren Manufacturing
Quality Control Standards in the Polo Ralph Lauren Brand
Polo Ralph Lauren’s Impact in the Fashion Industry

Let’s dive in…

Where Are Polo Ralph Lauren Clothes Made

Polo Ralph Lauren’s History and Growth

Source: Ralph Lauren.

Ralph Lauren is one of the veteran fashion companies that have aged like wine. If you ask me, Ralph (the founder) found a formula that works and stuck to it.

Authenticity and Timeless Style.

Stick to these, and your brand will be around for decades, if not centuries.

Now, lemme take you back to where it all started. I’ll try as much as possible to stick to only Polo Ralph Lauren’s history.

Believe it or not. The fashion powerhouse today we know started in 1967 with a line of neckties. Dubbed Polo, which the Old Hollywood Glamour inspired.

Ralph Lauren wasn’t here to play. So, the next year (1968), he launched his first full men’s collection. White flannel suits and dress shirts with an aim to bring romance back to fashion.

After opening two stores, the first Polo shirt was introduced to the market. Ralph Lauren’s dream was to see a Polo Player in them. As well as regular Americans appreciating them for their vivid colors.

In 2006, Polo Ralph Lauren became the official outfitter of Wimbledon. This was massive as it was the first brand to secure the contract in 120 years of the team’s existence.

Later, in 2014, Polo for Women was introduced in Central Park in a 4D water projection show.

While this is a gross oversimplification, Polo Ralph Lauren’s success speaks for itself. Today, they are among the leading fashion brands producing:

Polo Shirts – of course, this is their signature product.
Casual wear – college jackets, chinos, blazers, and much more.
Tailored suits for buyers looking for premium menswear

Currently, Polo Ralph Lauren owns over 140 standalone retail stores. And 1,300+ boutiques worldwide. Which brings us to the big question! Here we listed Best Italian T-Shirt Manufacturers, you can read!

Where Are Polo Ralph Lauren Clothes Made?

Here are the top locations where are Polo Ralph Lauren clothes made:

China

In 2025, are people surprised that the biggest brands are manufactured in China?

Forget about Polo Ralph Lauren for a second. Did you know a huge percentage of Nikes. Adidas, Calvin Klein, and Gucci, to name a few. Yes, China. Curious about Where Are Lululemon Clothes Made? you can get the answers here.

So, it is Polo Ralph Lauren is just a drop in the ocean. So, instead of crucifying ‘made in China’ products, the big question should be. Why are huge fashion brands running to China for production?

And I’ll tell you:

Huge production capacity. There a large, inexpensive labor costs that lower production costs. Hence, cheaper for bulk manufacturing of Polo Ralph Lauren clothes.
Highly developed supply chains that promote seamless movements of goods. Polo Ralph Lauren gets their products in the USA and other stores in no time. No delays about delayed deliveries or lack of raw materials.
Years of experience in the textile and apparel industries.

Even with that, there are still risks associated with manufacturing in China. The biggest one is counterfeit products. The market is filled with lots of low-quality manufacturers that will milk you dry. Deliver sub-standard products and vanish when you seek refunds.

Only work with reputable apparel manufacturers like JaceApparel. We’ve been around for years and have a proven track record of delivering quality products.

Vietnam

Vietnam is yet another apparel manufacturing hotspot. Customers are starting to appreciate Vietnam products even more than American ones.

One because they are cheap. Two, and most important, the quality is top-notch. See this Reddit post I stumbled upon the other day:

Source: Reddit.

Polo Ralph Lauren is tapping into this realization. Manufacturing a significant percentage of their global supply from Vietnam.

As a embroidered t-shirt manufacturer with a decade of experience, here’s what I love about Vietnam:

Cost-effective production. Vietnam’s wages are relatively low compared to China’s. In fact, an average factory worker in Vietnam makes $2500 a year. While the worker with the same skills makes around $8000 in China.
Its proximity to the USA and European markets also makes it a great choice. Polo Ralph Lauren is able to keep their shipping fees low and invest in marketing.

Expert Advice: The biggest disadvantage is the language and cultural differences. As a solo brand, you’ll struggle to work with manufacturers in Vietnam. Especially the low-cost ones. Just spend a little more to work with a manufacturer with a diverse team.
Ceng Anna, OEM and ODM clothing manufacturer

India

I’d bet that Polo Ralph Lauren manufactures in India for the same reason it does in China. Or Vietnam.

I mean, you can’t blame them, though. India has the largest population in the world. But even more interesting, the country employed 18 million factory workers in 2023. What’s shocking is that this was a 7% growth from 2022.

Currently, India has over 60 million factory workers, who make up 17% of their GDP. Quite impressive, right?

Apart from the abundant workforce, India also has:

Plenty of garment factories make it attractive for Polo Ralph Lauren’s huge demands.
Vast supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to shipping. Hence, Polo Ralph Lauren gets their bulk orders as fast as possible.

A huge blow to the industry is cunning businessmen who want to scam you for your money. Only work with registered manufacturers with hundreds of positive customer reviews. Remember, cheap is sometimes expensive.

Recommended Reading:

Top UK Clothing Manufacturing Companies

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Best Leather Jacket Manufacturers Revealed: Style & Fit

Italy

Italy hails in the leather craftsmanship industry and Polo Ralph Lauren knows this.

That’s why a huge percentage of their leather jackets come directly from Italy. The quality and craftsmanship of manufacturers here are just on another level.

Other pros of manufacturing apparel in Italy:

High-quality raw materials like wool and linen make stellar Polo shirts.
High market perception of “Made in Italy” products. Thus, Polo Ralph Lauren can set higher price points and make tons of profits.
Focus on sustainable fabrics, which attracts eco-conscious buyers.

What you might not like:

Products costs are through the roof. That’s because of high wages, premium materials, and tax laws. You are better off manufacturing from China if you are just starting out.

United States

East or West, home is always the best. A small percentage of Polo Ralph Lauren products comes from local USA manufacturers.

Mostly because they want to maintain quality standards across their entire portfolio. Again, I feel like most of their customers in the USA are not open to “Made in China” products.

Other reasons why Polo Ralph manufacturers in the USA are:

To maintain its brand heritage as a quality high-end fashion brand.
Easy quality control supervision for premium product lines like the Purple Label.
Fast dispatches to the masses. Customers can get their orders are soon as a new product drops in the market.

These are some of the reasons. I’m sure they are more like to portray patriotism for their country.

But all these come at a cost. Hence, you’ll find Polo Ralph Lauren costing more in USA retail shops than in other countries.

A Look Inside Polo Ralph Lauren’s Manufacturing

Focus on Lifestyle

As Ralph Lauren puts it: “What I do is about living the best life you can and enjoying the fullness of the life around you. From what you wear to the way you live to the way you love”.

This has seen Ralph Lauren receiving the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year TWICE. It’s more than just Polo shirts.

Ralph Lauren (the parent company) deals in a whole lot of premium fashion wear. The makes some of the best college jackets, hoodies, and caps — Pinky Ponky. A collection that was started to fight cancer.

It’s said that a percentage of Pinky Ponky’s collection goes into cancer research. Early diagnosis, treatment, and education.

A separate line of golf wear called RLX which made for professional golfers. Men, Women, or Kids. Oh, and the collection is tried and tested by some of the biggest names in the golf industry. So, you know they aren’t playing when they say they are revolutionizing the sports space.

Moreover, there’s a special kids collection that includes cashmere cable knit sweaters. And stylish polo knit shirts. Available in all sizes, 2-20 for boys and 2-16 for girls.

Working with Specialized Manufacturers

Polo Ralph Lauren isn’t afraid to push boundaries when it comes to apparel manufacturing.

In fact, they were the pioneers of the PrimaLoft ThermoPlume technology. This ensured apparel e.g., jackets warm without adding extra weight.

They’ve further adopted the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Manufacturing Substance List (ZDHC MRSL). This list consists of banned chemicals in the textile industry. Meaning that their manufacturers worldwide use only sustainable manufacturing processes.

Training their Workforce

We’ve already seen how diverse the Polo Ralph Lauren Garment production is. This decentralizes the quality of their products across all their retail stores.

One thing that sold me about the company is its commitment to empowering its workers. Through life skill programs, monitoring, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement. Happy workers make quality products.

That’s evident in all their products regardless of the location they come from.

Let’s go even deeper into Polo Ralph Lauren’s quality management processes.

Quality Control Standards in the Polo Ralph Lauren Brand

Every Polo Ralph Lauren supplier MUST follow the standards and terms of the VCP. The VCP is the Vendor Compliance Program, which third-party auditors check. Or Ralph Lauren Corporation’s team.

Also, suppliers should be very open about their operations and keep records. They should allow the Ralph Lauren team to check facilities, records, and employees.

All Ralph Lauren suppliers are responsible for their suppliers and subcontractors. That said, they are liable for any defective items in their supply chain.

These regulations ensure that Polo Ralph Lauren’s quality remains unmatched. There are very few complaints ever about their product quality. Not 100% good…maybe 90%. But better than buying from a who-knows-what brand that just came into the market.

Polo Ralph Lauren’s Impact on the Fashion Industry

Like I said, Polo Ralph Lauren made the uniforms for Wimbledon’s on-court official in 2006. This had never been done before in the team’s 120-year history.

But this was just the beginning.

Polo Ralph went on to become the official outfitter for Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. An achievement that most fashion brands can only dream of.

Polo Ralph Lauren's Impact on the Fashion Industry

I admire Polo Ralph Lauren’s commitment to fighting cancer. They partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The partnership opened doors to the East-Harlem-based center. They equipped it with very resource necessary for effective screening and treatment.

What’s Next

China remains the OG when it comes to affordable apparel manufacturing. They have the labor force and machinery to get the job done.

But if you find China expensive, settle for Vietnam instead. Just that you might struggle to find a manufacturer you can trust.

If your mind is made up on working with a Chinese manufacturer. Look no further than JaceApparel. We are the best in the game, such as gym clothing and sweatshirt, working with big names like Zalando and Costco.

Let’s help you build a profitable apparel brand like Polo Ralph Lauren. By sourcing affordable fabrics. Bulk production and timely delivery.

Your success lies on the other side; don’t wait any longer. Talk to our clothing manufacturers here.

Source:

1. ralphlauren.com – The World of Ralph Lauren Timeline.

2. ralphlauren.com – Protect the Environment.

3. corporate.ralphlauren.com – Factory Disclosure.

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