Watch the Full Film About NYC's Ralph Lauren Thieves: The Lo Lifes

During the late-’80s, two groups of teenagers from neighboring areas of Brooklyn came together to form a boosting (shoplifting) crew with a common goal— accumulate as much Polo Ralph Lauren as possible, by any means possible. Known as the Lo Lifes, they dressed themselves in the finest garments stolen from every upper-class department store in the tri-state area, while living a reality that was the complete opposite of what Ralph Lauren represented. To the authorities the Lo Lifes were criminals, but to themselves and people on the streets, their actions signified something else. They aspired to be something greater, and empowered themselves by taking something that wasn’t meant for them and making it their own. For the past five years Lo Life founder Thirstin Howl the 3rd and photographer/filmmaker Tom Gould have been documenting this culture. Interviews, archival pictures, and recent portraits of key players make up the first-ever book recounting how a group of kids in Brooklyn went on to influence mainstream rap stars and birth a sub-culture of boosters and collectors of vintage Ralph Lauren worldwide. A film by Tom Gould & Thirstin Howl the 3rd Book available now from: http://burymewiththeloon.com Published by Victory Journal

Just in time for New York Fashion Week, Kiwi photographer and director Tom Gould just unveiled his Bury Me With The Lo On short film highlighting Brooklyn's trendsetting group, the Lo Lifes. In collaboration with the crew's founder Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Gould compiled interview footage, photographs and authentic voiceovers of the gang-members-turned-fashionistas. While we have dubbed the stylish NYC squad as one of the "best dressed streetwear collectives in the '80s" and commended the filmmaker for his visual expertise, this eight minute documentary goes beyond our previous praises to stress the undeniable impact that the luxury brand pioneers from the hood brought to the world.

Polos were typically advertised as suitable for the wealthy, preppy, golf-playing, white elite. But in the eyes of the Lo Lifes, Ralph Lauren was a poppin' brand symbolic of respect and notable social status. By using robbery as a means of survival, the crew would steal entire outfits worth of Polo garments and soon became notorious for their impeccable steez. (In hindsight, they were a subculture putting the brand on the map and introducing Mr. Lauren's corporation to urban youth culture worldwide.) Whether strolling the streets or riding the train, the Lo Lifes enjoyed most of the reactions and head turning they would receive for their fly attire... except for glances of envy. The high fashion crew often had to dodge other gangs or people trying to cop their shit. This often led to fights and shootings, leaving several Lo Life members left to be buried with their "Lo" on. If you want to get a glimpse of what "Fight Club meets the runway" would look like, take some notes from the Lo Lifes in the jump above.

Words: Vanessa Feder