Only one man could swing into the heart of Milan with a confident American swagger: Ralph Lauren. At this most recent design week, that’s exactly what he did. At the Ralph Lauren Palazzo, he showcased the greatest hits of his home collections from over the years (think NYC penthouse to Jamaican retreat to English country estate) alongside a brand new one, Canyon Road.
As the name implies, it’s an homage to Lauren’s beloved American West, with ranch-ready motifs throughout. Materials like hand-worked saddle leather, brass nails, and sturdy oak are included in such pieces as an impressive dining table and chair and wing-backed armchairs. A showstopping triple-tier chandelier is crafted from naturally-shed antlers. And an end table takes inspiration from traditional steamer trunks, complete with saddle-leather belt buckles.
Ralph Lauren’s Canyon Road collection. The fabrics were made in collaboration with Polo Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence Naiomi Glasses and her brother Tyler.
“The Canyon Road Collection speaks to my longtime love of the American West—the heroic beauty of its landscapes, its unique heritage and the Indigenous people who have been part of preserving its lands and traditions for centuries,” says Lauren. “Bringing the most authentic expression of the West to life means working with the artisans practicing these traditions and sharing their stories with the world.”
This year marks the third time that Ralph Lauren has collaborated with Polo Ralph Lauren Artist in Residence Naiomi Glasses. This time, she recruited her brother, Tyler, and together with Lauren they created fabrics, floor coverings, bed linens, and even pewter entertaining accessories such as trays, napkin rings, and salt-and-pepper shakers.
The Canyon Road fabrics, in a home office setting.
The Glasses’ work includes neutral, red, black, and indigo tones, which reference Navajo traditional hues. The siblings were taught to weave by their grandmother, and they employ motifs that she also used, including horizontal diamonds and four-directional crosses. The latter signifies the four directions of the Earth, while the Spider Woman crosses, which appear on a blanket, throw pillow, and entertaining pieces, reference the creator and protector of the Navajo tradition. One pattern is even named Peppy’s Blanket after a family horse from the Glasses ranch, and features butterfly diamonds after an original saddle blanket by Tyler Glasses.
“Navajo weaving is a craft that has carried on through my family for seven generations and preserving these traditions in new ways has been so inspiring to me as an artist,” said Glasses when first iteration of the collaboration was introduced. “To now be able to share it with people around the world, as seen through my eyes and brought to life, is a dream come true.”
