For nearly five decades, South African fashion lovers have faced a style puzzle: Ralph Lauren Polo versus Polo South Africa.
Imagine eyeing that iconic shirt, only to realise you had to check the direction of the polo player to know which company you were supporting.
This was the reality for generations of South African shoppers, and it’s why the two Polos became a legendary fashion puzzle.
Now, Ralph Lauren Corporation has officially acquired the South African Polo trademarks and business from the LA Group.
The global Ralph Lauren Polo, launched in 1967, features its mounted polo player and pony facing to the right (or towards the buttons on a shirt).
The homegrown, equally iconic Polo South Africa, which the LA Group registered and cultivated since 1976, features its rider facing to the left.
This small detail became the key to distinguishing between an American luxury brand and a powerful local one.
For years, shoppers believed they were buying into the famous US fashion house, when in reality, they were championing a distinctly South African label.
The trademark tussle
The fact that two companies could share the same famous name in one country wasn’t just a coincidence, but a result of trademark laws and history.
While Ralph Lauren’s Polo mark was registered globally in the 1960s, the LA Group secured the rights to the name and logo for clothing in South Africa in 1976.
This created a long-term problem, and to deal with it, the two brands made a private co-existence agreement decades ago.
This agreement was the reason you could find Ralph Lauren’s Polo perfumes and cosmetics in the country, but the actual Polo-branded apparel (shirts and knitwear) was almost exclusively the local LA Group brand.
Ralph Lauren was kept out of the clothing market to protect the local Polo’s territory.
However, that peace broke down, leading to repeated legal clashes.
The court battles became intense, focusing on who truly owned the right to the name and whether consumers were being confused.
The legal fight eventually went to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).
This is the second-highest court in South Africa, deciding appeals from lower courts and setting important legal precedents.
In a key 2022 ruling, the SCA ultimately sided with the LA Group.
The court found that because the local Polo brand had been sold and used in South Africa for so many decades, it had gained its own distinct identity.
It confirmed the LA Group’s legal ownership of the local trademarks.
This court victory confirmed that Ralph Lauren could not simply force the local brand out, making an acquisition the only clear path forward for the global giant.
The acquisition and future of the brand
The acquisition marks the final, decisive step in unifying the Polo identity in South Africa.
The Ralph Lauren Corporation has acquired all rights, titles, and interests associated with the local brand, effectively merging the two identities under the global banner.
The South African Competition Commission recently approved the proposed transaction, officially handing the reins to the US fashion giant.
For the South African consumer, this means the end of the confusing “two Polos” saga.
It grants Ralph Lauren unhindered access to sell its full, globally recognised Polo Ralph Lauren apparel and ranges, promising a streamlined shopping experience and an increased selection of international luxury goods.
Job protection
Crucially, the Competition Commission attached key public interest safeguards to the approval of this deal.
The transaction stipulated a mandatory condition to protect the local workforce.
The LA Group is prohibited from retrenching any permanent employees involved in the manufacture, distribution, and retail of Polo-branded products linked to the acquired assets.
This condition ensures a measure of job security during the transition, blending the global vision with a commitment to local talent and operational continuity.
While the distinctive local heritage cultivated by the LA Group for over 40 years will now be integrated into a larger portfolio, the move positions the South African brand for global expertise, increased investment, and a secure future under one of the world’s most enduring luxury names.
Lifestyle
