It’s no secret that working at Ralph Lauren is a fashion school in itself. And the prestigious university has churned out notable alumni in its 53 year run including Sid Mashburn, Todd Snyder and Antonio Ciongoli. Another name to know is René Holguin, founder of one of the coolest brands you’re likely to hear about, RTH.
Holguin grew up as many young designers did, idolizing Ralph Lauren and his perfected prep lifestyle, a look he’d not found so easy growing up in El Paso, Texas. His highly-developed taste was undoubtedly a result of both his father who was the owner of lauded cowboy bootmaker Laramie and his mother who was a self-made interior designer. Crisp white button-up shirts, cowboy boots and faded jeans would become a uniform for him.
Eventually, he found himself working for the designer he’d revered so much, gaining that singular hands-on education so many alumni talk about. After working as the creative director for Polo retail, Holguin worked as a fashion director for J. Crew and held executive positions at both Lucky Brand Jeans and Levi’s. When it came time to move on, Holguin set off to Los Angeles to start his own brand.
The store started out as an outpost for Southwestern-inspired style with a discerning mix of handcrafted leather goods (made in-house), Native American jewelry and customized vintage jeans and drew loyal fans like Erykah Badu and Diane Keaton. Now, the brand has a second location located conveniently next door and it houses an international brand list serving as a sort of mood board for RTH. When you find yourself in Los Angeles, the side-by-side shops are worth a visit.
But if you’re not able to visit RTH in person, or can’t get there anytime soon, you can at least get a hold of one of the brand’s popular suede-trimmed bandana tote bags over at Alex Mill. “I’ve been a huge fan of Rene [Holguin] and RTH for a very long time — his store in LA is a must-visit for me,” Alex Mill creative director Somsack Sikhounmuong told us. “It’s always consistent, and never boring.”
Bandana Tote by RTH $120
Bandana Tote by RTH $120
Bandana Tote by RTH $120
Over a half century since its inception, Ralph Lauren remains a powerful force in the style world. Former employees, now with successful businesses of their own, maintain the standards and lessons they learned during their time there. Here are five you may know. Read the Story