Gee’s Bend quilters highlighted in new Ralph Lauren collection
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Art work from Alabama’s Black Belt is taking the spotlight in a new collection from the prestigious Ralph Lauren Company.
This summer, Ralph Lauren has launched the latest collaboration in its Artist in Residence program which includes work from Gee’s Bend artists Claudia Pettway Charley and Loretta Pettway Bennett.
The two collaborated with Ralph Lauren to create a collection to honor the legacy of the Gee’s Bend community through apparel and home decor.
“Inspired by the foundational tradition of using repurposed fabrics in quiltmaking – a practice born from necessity and resourcefulness – quilts and apparel from the Ralph Lauren x Gee’s Bend collection are made from upcycled Ralph Lauren fabrics and hand-pieced together with exceptional artisanal skill and craftsmanship. Denim anchors the collaboration, merging Ralph Lauren’s brand codes with the Gee’s Bend quilting tradition of utilizing workwear fabrics, valued for its durability and passed down through generations.”
Ralph Lauren Company
Keep reading to see what’s included + learn more about the Gee’s Bend artists.
Ralph Lauren x Gee’s Bend collection
Gee’s Bend is home to a community of Black artists whose quilting has been shaped by generations of creativity and resilience.
Ralph Lauren said their quilts are distinguished by their visual language and vibrant, modern approach to color and abstraction.
The art of quilting has been uniquely elevated in the American tradition from a domestic craft into a high art form, with communities like Gee’s Bend contributing their own techniques and storytelling traditions.
“The collaboration features designs by fourth-generation textile artist Claudia Pettway Charley, renowned for her intuitive, improvisational approach, and fifth-generation textile artist Loretta Pettway Bennett, widely acclaimed for her striking, graphic quilts as powerful expressions of family and tradition.”
Ralph Lauren Company
The collection includes:
- Hand-painted ceramic tableware
- Mugs ($225)
- Plate set ($330)
- Gee’s Bend Polo Play Tote ($2.1K)
- Gee’s Bend Jacket ($4.9K)
- Quilts ($3.9K)
- Pillow ($1K)
You can browse the entire collection on Ralph Lauren’s website.
Partnership with Equal Justice Initiative
Ralph Lauren also announced that five percent of the purchase price of each item of the Ralph Lauren x Gee’s Bend collection will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI).
EJI is based in Montgomery, dedicated resources to advancing social justice and fostering a more equitable future. Proceeds from the collection will support EJI’s hunger relief programming, providing direct assistance to low-income families across Alabama.
