U.S. Polo Assn. hires Abercrombie & Fitch designer to lead men's and boys'

U.S. Polo Assn. has appointed David Swetman as global design lead for men's and boys', recruiting from Abercrombie & Fitch as it builds out its senior team.

Swetman spent 18 years at A&F, most recently as senior concept designer for global menswear, where he is credited with a significant part in the reinvention of the company's men's business. A Central Saint Martins graduate, he previously interned at Paul Smith and Reiss.

"I am excited to join U.S. Polo Assn. during a period of exceptional global growth and momentum," said Swetman in a statement. "The brand's authentic heritage in the sport of polo, combined with its expanding global footprint and strong foundation for future growth, presents a tremendous opportunity to further elevate the men's and boys’ businesses across our global markets as we continue to engage the next generation of consumers."

His remit covers design vision and product direction for all men's and boys' apparel across the brand worldwide, including design, trend forecasting, concept development, seasonal storytelling and category innovation. He will work with the brand's licensee network to set a single global design direction while leaving room for regional variation.

"As we continue to expand around the world, we remain committed to investing in exceptional talent that can elevate our product offerings, strengthen our global design capabilities, and shape the future of our men’s and boys’ businesses around the world,” said J. Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. “David's experience translating consumer insights into building successful global collections, and contributing to one of the industry's most notable brand transformations makes him an outstanding addition to our team as we execute our elevated brand plan and goal of $4 billion in global retail sales."

The numbers behind the target

The appointment comes off five consecutive record years. USPA Global reported 2.7 billion dollars in worldwide retail sales for 2025, up from 2.5 billion in 2024 and 2.4 billion in 2023, with North America its largest region and growth reported across India, the Middle East, Western Europe and Latin America.

The 4 billion dollar figure Prince referenced is a long-term goal rather than a forecast, and sits alongside targets of 1,500 stores, 100 digital sites and 25 million social media followers. The brand currently operates around 1,200 stores worldwide, having raised its store target timeline to 2030, and sells in more than 190 countries through roughly 50 e-commerce sites in 20 languages.

Much of that reach runs through licensees rather than owned operations, which is what makes a single global design authority for menswear a structural change rather than a personnel one. Swetman's job is to impose one product direction across a network that has grown market by market.

The brand's marketing continues to lean on the sport itself. Its ESPN partnership, which carries the U.S. Open Polo Championship from the USPA National Polo Center in Palm Beach County, has been extended through 2026, with further broadcast deals covering TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India and BeIn Sports in the Middle East.