PRL x TÓPA Earth’s Embrace Beaded Belt

Presenting Polo Ralph Lauren x TÓPA, a continuing collaboration of the Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence program, reflecting our evolved design approach with the artisans and communities that inspire us. This collection features the artistry of wife-and-husband duo Jocy and Trae Little Sky—founders of the clothing brand TÓPA and proud members of the Oceti Sakowin (People of Seven Council Fires); Jocy is of Dakota and Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations (MHA/Dakota), and Trae is Oglala Lakota and Stoney Nakoda. Their creations merge modern silhouettes with distinctive Indigenous cultural elements to honor and preserve ancestral traditions while reflecting the beauty and vibrancy of their Northern Plains heritage. The name TÓPA, meaning “four” in the languages of the Oceti Sakowin, symbolizes the four directions, four seasons, four stages of life, and four meaningful colors. Crafted with full-grain leather, this unisex belt’s hand-beaded design creates a visual interpretation of balance and harmony, with star and cloud motifs symbolizing the reflection of the sky above to the land below. Its intricately rendered colors include blue hues that represent the sky, water, and protection, while green signifies healing, renewal, and Mother Earth. As an integral element of artistic and cultural expression for members of the Oceti Sakowin, beading upholds an ethos in which time-intensive handwork expresses love, affection, and appreciation.