Ralph Lauren's colorful early '90s outdoor gear gets a very 2018 upgrade.Polo Hi Tech was hard to miss when it first debuted in the early '90s, even as the market was increasingly saturated with color-blocked Crayola anoraks and ski pants. The label first appeared on Polo Sport pieces in 1992, on everything from hoodies to outdoorsy jackets and vests and, of course, polos, and stayed put until 1994. Looking back on the collection now, what's most notable about the initial run is how R.L. & Co. were attempting athleisure two decades before that awful word entered the menswear lexicon. And by 2018 standards, the newly reimagined lineup is very now, which is to say it's bold and logo-ed out and unmissable inside twenty yards. The time between the original and the revival has also allowed for improvements on the fabrication front, so the performance elements are on par with actual athletic gear versus the papery nylons of decades past, and updated fits mean armholes won't sit at your ribcage (but brand enthusiasts will be happy to know that a reproduction of the original Polo Ralph Lauren label sits inside most garments). But the best news about the 2018 Hi Tech collection might be that you'll actually be able to get your hands on it. The collection is available now at ralphlauren.com and will hit the shelves of select retailers this fall.
