Ralph Lauren, who loves putting the American flag on the sweaters he sells, is being criticized for putting his oversize Polo logo on the chests of the US Olympic athletes instead of the stars and stripes.
Some of the 165,000 members of the patriotic Daughters of the American Revolution — who control some of the most exclusive country clubs in the nation — have even talked about organizing a ban on Polo merchandise in the pro shops in those clubs.
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A source told Page Six that at one particular club not far from the city, “Some of the members are up in arms and actively looking for a way to keep Polo products out.”
DAR spokeswoman Bren Landon told us, “If there is in fact any movement afoot to form a boycott against this manufacturer, it is being done by a few individual members who do not have the authority to speak for the national society. No such boycott is planned, nor has it been discussed.”
A Polo rep said, “The uniforms for Team USA reflect a close collaboration between the USOC and Polo Ralph Lauren, and they are thoroughly patriotic in their design and spirit. The decision was jointly made to prominently feature the American flag on the most visual piece, the opening ceremonies hat. The flag is also proudly displayed on several items in the collection.”
Lauren was criticized in 1998 for putting the US flag on sweaters, essentially commercializing Old Glory. The controversy ended when Lauren donated $13 million for the conservation of the original flag that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Right-winger Ann Coulter said the Polo logo on the Olympic uniforms is “huge,” but, “If you want athletes to wear un-logo’d uniforms, you have to sponsor them instead of Polo. That’s just how life is.”