Ralph Lauren Honored With First Presidential Medal of Freedom for a Fashion Designer

As US President Joe Biden’s term comes to a close his administration distributed eighteen Medals of Freedom at the White House on Saturday morning. Designer Ralph Lauren was one of the honorees, making him the first fashion designer to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Medal is the highest civilian honor in the United States, granted to recognize individuals who have made major contributions to the country. Lauren was chosen for his legendary work in the American fashion industry and wide-reaching philanthropic initiatives. The brand took to Instagram to celebrate the achievement highlighting Lauren’s “extraordinary contributions and influence on American style, culture, and society.”

In another post, Ralph Lauren continued, to look back at other honors the designer has received including James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, France’s Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, and an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

Through its multiple decades in business, the brand has maintained a strong brand identity rooted in the designer’s American providence. The American West and East Coast prep aesthetics have served as a major source of inspiration for Ralph Lauren’s collections. Though the designer has been considered quintessentially American for a long time, his latest honor concretizes his place in the country’s national history.