'Superfans' is a three-part series that shines a light on life-long Polo Ralph Lauren collectors around the world. First stop: Tokyo.
Tucked into a street in the Ura-Harajuku district of Tokyo, you might not expect to find a one-of-a-kind Ralph Lauren Polo shirt collection. And you definitely might not expect that collection to be housed in the salon of a local barber. But walk through the front door of Dak Nishiyama’s salon and you’re met with a whole slew of archival items from the brand that’s defined global fashion for over 50 years.
Nishiyama’s relationship with Ralph Lauren dates back to his childhood. The brand brings back memories of his father, who would let his son wear his favorite POLO shirts. In 1996, Nishiyama acquired his first POLO piece. He recalls with fondness the cobalt-blue POLO SPORT tee splashed with fish graphics that he purchased as a nascent collector.
In the years since he’s amassed enough items of clothing to cover the walls of his salon, and then some. There’s a steadfastness to the brand that speaks to him: “I love how the brand always stays true and doesn’t get swayed by trends. The color schemes are always nice too. The way I see it, POLO does something, and other brands follow. I think they have a lot of confidence when it comes to design, and I love that.”
It’s this quality and commitment to craft that’s allowed the brand to burgeon into the global force that it is today. It was, after all, Ralph Lauren who first endeavored to create a classic yet modern wardrobe for men that married function with finesse. And though it’s adapted to the times throughout the years, the brand’s essential DNA has always remained top of mind.
To walk into Nishiyama’s salon is to be confronted with a dizzying array of shirts and accessories that span styles, years, shapes, and sizes. A patterned windbreaker hangs next to a tank top commemorating the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Stuffed POLO bears in tiny sweaters and collectors hats line the shelves. Nishiyama himself tends to a customer in a red POLO shirt complete with polo mallets that stretch across the front. His personal favorite item is an Easter hat, released in 1992, that he wasn’t able to buy at the time of its release, but added to his collection years later.
In Japan, Nishiyama posits, the brand takes on a specific context: “In Tokyo, POLO has a reputation of being a classy brand, kind of refined and elegant in a way. Of course, the styling possibilities are endless here, but the image is more on the clean side of things.”
Nishiyama is just one of many Ralph Lauren collectors the world over. As a heritage brand, POLO has a specific appeal to people looking to hold on to not only a particular style but a piece of history as well. Even as the brand continues to redefine itself and adapt to today, Nishiyama continues to feel the comfort he felt as a child when his father first handed him a shirt. “POLO has always been a part of me and my wardrobe,” he says. “When I want to go back to my roots, I find myself wearing Ralph Lauren.”
Stay tuned for the next chapters of our Polo Ralph Lauren Superfans series. In the meantime, discover the Polo Shirt collection.
