When Ralph Lauren was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025 — the first fashion designer to receive the country’s highest honor — he thought that was the most prestigious distinction he would ever achieve.
But now the iconic designer, who can also count France’s Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur as well as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) among his accolades, can add another distinction to his repertoire. The United States Postal Service has tapped him to curate a set of commemorative stamps in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Lauren handpicked 13 images from his personal archives that he believes represent the fabric of the nation. The images were made into stamps by the USPS and will be available for purchase beginning next month.
Twelve of the stamps will feature an “American Icons” title and “Forever” and “USA” in white text in the upper left or upper right corners. A 13th stamp is a replica of a knit flag designed by Lauren that reads: “1776 to 2026.”
This marks the first time the postal service has asked an individual to curate a complete stamp issuance.
“In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, it is an honor to have been invited by the U.S. Postal Service to curate this special stamp collection,” Lauren said. “I love America, and these images symbolize the many ideals and aspirations that bind us together. They are icons of our country — authentic, timeless and passed down through generations — and reflect the dream of a better life that has always inspired me.”
Lauren also showed his patriotic spirit when he donated $10 million in 1998 to conserve the 1813 flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The flag, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, inspired Francis Scott Key to write the song that would become the U.S.’ national anthem.
“This is a continuation of our American history celebration,” said David Lauren, vice chairman and chief branding and innovation officer for Ralph Lauren, and the designer’s son.
David said the USPS and his father had been talking for years about working together but couldn’t land on the right timing. That was until the planning for the country’s 250th anniversary began to take shape.
“We didn’t realize how major they were dreaming,” he said, adding: “This is beyond our dreams. My father is the first and only person to have created a collection of stamps for the post office.”
What this shows, David said, is, “They think of him as a curator of American taste, culture and style. He’s transcended fashion — and it’s appropriate because my dad didn’t go to fashion school and he didn’t actually see himself as a designer. He really thought he was telling stories through clothes and the iconography he respected about America, he brought to life through his clothes.”
The Empire State Building is where Ralph Lauren got his start selling ties.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
For the stamp collection, Ralph Lauren selected 12 images he also saw as symbols of the U.S. They include an image of the flag blowing in the wind; a baseball glove used by Jackie Robinson; a worn and weathered pickup truck; a dog; the Empire State Building; a barn; a teddy bear; a lighthouse; a racing sailboat; horses running free; a hamburger, and a Diné, or Navajo blanket.
The designer worked with the post office on the “message, values and dreams they thought were important to communicate” when selecting the images. Ultimately, the photos were chosen to not only fit into the larger archetype, David said, but because they were “uniquely personal” to the designer.
The Empire State Building , for example, is intended to represent “American entrepreneurial spirit, American leadership, American power and influence,” but it was also the place where Ralph Lauren got his start, selling his men’s neckties out of a drawer in an office that someone lent to him. “He didn’t have any money. He would take a train down from the Bronx, and put his ties in someone else’s drawer,” his son said. “And he built a company from that.”
The teddy bear has become a favorite sight on Ralph Lauren sportswear.
courtesy of Ralph Lauren
The teddy bear is “a symbol of warmth and childhood and family and love,” David said, “but my father made the bear his own. It’s become a popular motif on our sweaters. In reality, Teddy Roosevelt protected the bears, and the teddy bear was part of his effort to tell people to take care of the environment and look at sustainability.”
The designer was also among the first to adorn a sweater with a flag. “It is very much a symbol that my father loves and proudly wanted to wear before anyone thought that was cool,” David said. “My dad felt that that sweater was very iconic, very important to him, and it’s become a symbol of what Ralph Lauren really stands for.”
Jackie Robinson’s baseball glove.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
The baseball glove is also very personal to the designer, his son said. Nearly 10 years ago, Ralph Lauren was asked to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in honor of his company’s 50th anniversary. “It was a big honor for him, because he grew up without any money and trying to get into a Yankees game after school in the Bronx. The national pastime was internalized by him as a kid” and he grew up idolizing players such as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Robinson.
“Jackie Robinson’s granddaughter worked here at Ralph Lauren for my dad directly for 25 years on our people and development team,” he said. “To select the stamp, my father connected all the dots and said, ‘I want to do baseball because I love baseball. But I want to get at the core of what made baseball interesting.’ Baseball was about integration. Baseball was about Jackie Robinson. Baseball was about heroes. Baseball was about leadership, teamwork, partnership, everything America is. It can be symbolized in the sport of baseball.”
The Ford pickup truck was originally owned by a rancher who lived near the family’s home in Colorado. The designer was mesmerized by what he saw as the most perfect faded patina that looked rugged and weathered. He offered to buy the truck for months until the rancher finally agreed. “It was owned by an honest man who works the land and takes care of his family,” David said, and it became the symbol of the designer’s Double RL ranch.
The photo of the horses running is a “symbol of freedom and boundless energy in a world without boundaries,” the dog represents man’s best friend and trusted partner, and the hamburger is the quintessentially American food.
A hamburger is the ultimate American meal.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
The blanket was woven by Naiomi Glasses, a Native American of Navajo descent who worked with the designer on the company’s Artist in Residence program in 2023, creating a collection of apparel and home furnishings based on her weavings.
“An important heritage of American culture that’s not often recognized is the Navajo craft,” he said. “It’s a very important part of what my dad loves about America. Going back to 1980 when he went out West and designed his first collection inspired by Santa Fe and the West, he looked at Navajo prints and art and patterns. So this is a way to pay homage and celebrate the Navajo craft.”
Naiomi Glasses created the Diné, or Navajo, print for this blanket.
Courtesy of Ralph Lauren
The American Icons stamps will be issued as Forever stamps in panes of 13. The collection will be sold in either a commemorative pane, a portfolio, a postcard pack or pin card. The text at the top will read: “American Icons Curated by Ralph Lauren,” and the bottom row will read: “Celebrating 250 Years of the United States of America.”
Ralph Lauren is also creating a small collection in honor of the event that will include an American flag sweater, a polo shirt and a ball cap.
Ralph Lauren also created a polo shirt to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
TEX BISHOP
A dedication ceremony for the stamps will take place on June 9 at 11 a.m. at the James A. Farley Post Office Building. Anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to register at usps.com/americaniconsstamps. Beginning that day, the stamps can be purchased at post office locations nationwide, in select Ralph Lauren retail stores and online.
The USPS was founded in 1775 and predates the formation of the nation. Benjamin Frankin was the first Postmaster General, a position to which he was appointed on July 26, 1775. Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman also served in that position. Today, even as it faces financial struggles, the USPS still delivers to more than 167 million addresses across every U.S. state, city and town.
