Ralph Lauren teams up with Haworth Lifestyle Design to boost luxury furniture business

Ralph Lauren is keen to grow its home decoration and furniture business. The New York-based label launched a home decoration line in 1983, initially focusing on fabrics, wallpaper and tableware, and later extending it to include furniture, home linen and accessories. It has now decided to boost its presence in this sector via “a long-term strategic partnership” with US group Haworth Lifestyle Design, a high-end specialist.

From April 1, Ralph Lauren will tap Haworth Lifestyle Design’s expertise for its high-end Italian-made furniture line. Haworth is a leading international firm that works with the top names of Italian furniture design, like Cassina, Cappellini and Poltrona Frau. Haworth’s Italy-based Luxury Living Group division manages the interior decoration lines of several luxury labels, among them Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Trussardi, Bentley and Bugatti.

Ralph Lauren’s goal is to “to significantly expand the production and distribution of Ralph Lauren’s Italian-made luxury furniture offerings,” said the label in a press release. The partnership “will also include the development and operation of a network of new, stand-alone, immersive Ralph Lauren Home stores in strategic locations globally,” added the label.

“Home [decoration] is a high-potential category for us, and working with Haworth Lifestyle Design will allow us to leverage their expertise in craftsmanship, manufacturing and customer service, as well as to expand distribution of our luxury furniture, further accelerating the growth of Ralph Lauren Home around the world in support of our next great chapter: the Accelerate strategy,” said Guillaume Tardy, chief lifestyle and licensing officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation.

The label will continue to directly manage the development of its bedding, bath, tabletop, and gifts product categories, and will work with its existing partners for other home furnishings categories.