South African Polo
Ralph Lauren Corporation has bought the Polo South Africa business from the LA Group, ending decades of confusion between the two brands. The acquisition gives RL full local trademark rights and allows the global label to expand its apparel range in SA, while safeguarding jobs in the process
Ralph Lauren Corporation has officially acquired Polo South Africa from the LA Group, ending nearly fifty years of brand confusion and rivalry. For decades, South African consumers encountered two Polo logos: the global luxury brand and a local variant whose polo pony faced the opposite direction. The acquisition grants Ralph Lauren full ownership of trademarks, goodwill, and business operations in South Africa, allowing the global label to sell its complete apparel range under the true Polo Ralph Lauren brand.
The Competition Commission approved the deal with the condition that no permanent staff in the Polo South Africa business be retrenched, ensuring continuity for employees who helped build the brand locally. The LA Group, which stewarded the South African Polo brand since 1976, expressed pride in its legacy, while Ralph Lauren framed the acquisition as a key step in unifying its global brand presence and expanding its market footprint in South Africa.
