The authentic and timeless world of Ralph Lauren
Spring 2026
RL/Culture

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To celebrate America’s 250th, the U.S. Postal Service invited Ralph Lauren to create a collection of commemorative stamps.
A trusted pickup truck, worn and weathered on a country road. The Empire State Building, shining bright on an autumn night in New York, a majestic beacon of the power of dreams. Horses, running free across the open plains out west. Across nearly 60 years as a designer, Ralph Lauren has been deeply inspired by America’s visual poetry—its vibrant heritage, rich landscapes, and singular artistry. In fact, it is America—the place where anyone and everyone can share the dream—that has influenced him and his enduring creative vision above all else.
“I love America,” Ralph says, “and these images symbolize the many ideals and aspirations that bind us together.”
Now, as the country comes together to celebrate its 250th birthday, the U.S. Postal Service has invited Ralph to curate a special issuance of commemorative stamps. The result is “American Icons,” 13 stamps that celebrate the essence of our country. Selected in part from Ralph’s unparalleled visual archive, and from visuals that have inspired him, the images embody America’s shared values—freedom, independence, equality, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness—while also reflecting the rich, unique fabric of our nation.
“I love America,” Ralph says, “and these images symbolize the many ideals and aspirations that bind us together. They are the icons of our country—authentic, timeless, and passed down through generations—and reflect the dream of a better life that has always inspired me.”

Renewed Glory

How Ralph Lauren helped conserve the Star-Spangled Banner

For Francis Scott Key, it was the majestic sight of an American flag waving over Fort McHenry at dawn in 1813 that inspired him to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” For 25 hours, British ships had bombed the American fort. By morning the flag, as Key wrote, still waved … “o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” That flag, forever known as the Star-Spangled Banner, is now among the most-revered American treasures, with millions coming to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. each year to pay homage. The flag famously endured bombardment, but by 1998 it was falling apart from age, showing signs of wear and tear and in need of preservation. That’s when Ralph Lauren stepped in.
The Star-Spangeld Banner on the day that it arrived at the Smithsonian in July 1907.
In his life and work, Ralph has been moved by the ways iconic symbols express our ideals and aspirations as Americans, with the flag representing both our past and our future as no other image can. Ralph took the lead in the fundraising needed to help save the Star-Spangled Banner. After careful preservation, the flag was moved to a custom-built environmentally controlled chamber at the Smithsonian, where the 34-by-30-foot Star-Spangled Banner is now the focus of a permanent exhibition that educates visitors about the battle that inspired our national anthem, details a century of efforts to preserve the flag itself, and explores flag symbolism in American history. “I am the product of the American dream,” Ralph says, “and the flag is its symbol. Its preservation and conservation is imperative so that those who succeed us will understand our nation’s heritage and the ideals on which the United States was founded. The Star-Spangled Banner was an inspiration to Francis Scott Key. It’s been an inspiration for me.”
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