As wintertime returns to the Windy City, Ralph Lauren’s Chicago flagship has just unveiled one of its most beloved annual holiday traditions. The global luxury lifestyle brand’s cinematic, interactive window installations are back at its Chicago, New York, London and Tokyo flagship stores.
Merging artistry and tech-driven innovation, the displays are centered around the brand’s iconic Polo Bear—a symbol that has remained at the company’s core since its introduction in 1991.
At the Mag Mile storefront, the Polo Bear inhabits the Polo Bear Gift Concierge, a haberdashery-inspired environment with wood-paneled walls, mahogany shelving and polished brass accents.
In the display, the Polo Bear springs to life as a tailor, adding the final embellishments on ties to gift to his family and friends. Animated with an embedded 3D digital rendering placed in a physical vignette, the character sips a cup of Ralph’s Coffee, selects tools from his workstation and cheerfully waves to onlookers.
Developed in collaboration with Cinimod Studio, a full-service innovation atelier, the installation combines customized AI technology with six months of intensive development to create the Polo Bear’s lifelike responsiveness.
This year’s exhibition furthers the brand’s long-running annual wintertime custom, which originated at the Ralph Lauren mansion and has since expanded to many of its stores, including its global flagships.
As the first brand to launch an e-commerce platform nearly 25 years ago, the company has long merged fashion with technology, incorporating 3D holographic displays into its stores, expanding into the Metaverse and creating immersive visual store experiences.
In past seasons, the company has drawn on classic seasonal motifs and quintessential brand symbols for its annual installations, incorporating elements like cozy fireplaces, polo player logos, Nutcracker illustrations and a signature red, green, cream and gold color palette.
See also: The Best Holiday Events In Chicago
Photography by: Photography courtesy of Ralph Lauren
