Ralph Lauren x Alpha Kappa Alpha Christmas Ugly Sweater

On January 15, 1908, inside Miner Hall at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Ethel Hedgeman Lyle and her fellow founders established Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter sorority created by African American college women. Rooted in the motto of Service to All Mankind, the sorority’s Salmon Pink and Apple Green palette and enduring ivy leaf symbol have defined campus and alumnae pride for over a century. The Ralph Lauren x Alpha Kappa Alpha Christmas Ugly Sweater brings that 1908 heritage onto a warm cream long-sleeve V-neck pullover designed for January 15 Founders’ Day (AKAversary) programs, December holiday gatherings, and homecoming weekends.

Unlike round-neck pullovers, this piece is tailored with a classic ribbed V-neck collar striped in alternating salmon-pink, cream-white, and apple-green bands—making it easy to wear solo or layered over a crisp white collared shirt. A salmon-pink Polo horse-and-rider silhouette sits on the upper left chest, while both upper sleeves are wrapped by dual horizontal varsity bands pairing a solid apple-green upper stripe above a chevron-textured salmon-pink lower stripe.

Salmon Pink Varsity Bear Details and Ivy Leaf 1908 Tote

At the center of the torso stands the dressed AKA Teddy Bear mascot, merging the 1991 collegiate bear tradition with chapter regalia. The bear wears a salmon-pink snap-front varsity bomber jacket with cream sleeves, green-and-pink striped trim, green AKA block letters on the left chest, and a green five-pointed ivy leaf above 1908 on the right sleeve, layered over a cream cable-knit V-neck sweater vest and white collared shirt. With one paw tucked into cuffed khaki-tan trousers above white socks and brown leather horsebit loafers, the bear carries a cream canvas-style tote bag with salmon-pink handles, an apple-green base, and front artwork displaying AKA, a green ivy leaf marked with a white A, and 1908.

Beneath the mascot’s loafers, arched apple-green collegiate block letters outlined in salmon-pink spell out ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA® above SORORITY, INC.® flanked by horizontal green lines, the founding year – 1908 –, and an apple-green cursive Ralph Lauren signature script. Woven from a 95% polyester and 5% spandex blend across unisex sizes XS to 5XL, the sweater provides gentle stretch and adaptive body temperature response through autumn and winter wear, while all-over dye-sublimation printing bonds the tonal diamond-knit background texture, sleeve stripes, and ivy leaf details directly into the fibers so they never crack, peel, or fade. Shoppers coordinating NPHC sorority gifts across family households can also pair this V-neck pullover with the Sigma Gamma Rho Bear Sweater for holiday exchanges.