The story of the Ralph Lauren interest in Airedales began here in Barbados
in 1985. Bruce Weber, the photographer for that shoot, asked island Kennel
Club people to assemble 2 dobes, 2 boxers, 2 shepherds and 2 Airedales. I
was called since I had the only Airedales on the island, who, it just so
happened, had just completed their obedience training at 7 months old.
Nicol (CH Loudwell Right Hand Man) and Zara (Loudwell Purple Heather) were
supposed to be there for 1/2 day. Bruce kept them for a week and included
them in every shot he did (on land) and said he was going to speak to Ralph
about making the Airedale the Polo mascot. He also did a shoot of just the
dogs alone. He was especially interested in Nicol, who wound up in just
about every photo they used from that week of shooting at the famed Heron
Bay House here.
Check our website: www.airwreck.com the Airedale section and you'll
see a few of the originals that wound up in Esquire, Redbook, M, Good
Housekeeping, etc. The ad people were kind enough to send us several images
so that we had a record of at least a few of the ads that were used. Nicol
also appeared in the NY Times Sunday supplement hailing the opening of the
new one block Polo store.
Subsequent to that, Ralph did an Airedale tie, which is something of a
collector's item now and after that I lost track. It's hard down here in
Barbados to follow the going's on with various US companies. The two 'dales
in the shoot referred to in the last issue, I don't know, but if Bruce did
the Polo shoot, I'm not surprised he asked for 'dales. They dumped all the
other brace breeds and went strictly with Airedales that year.
pretty cool, huh?
roxan and the 'dales-4, and (RIP) Nicol, the Polo dog!
What do Airedales do for fun in Barbados???
