Ralph Lauren Information

Few brand names are as immediately recognizable worldwide as Polo/Ralph Lauren, and few logos are as well-known as the little polo player on horseback. The look of Ralph Lauren products is classic, elegant and a bit snobby, while reflecting a sense of good taste, old money and quality. His success comes not only from his designs but also from the whole lifestyle created around the clothes, accessories, home décor and fragrances.

Childhood

Ralph Lifshitz was born in New York in 1939. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Belarus, and he had a modest, middle-class upbringing in the Bronx. He was always interested in fashion and saved his money to buy expensive clothing. Fed up with teasing from his classmates, Ralph changed his surname to Lauren around 1950.

Early Years

After finishing high school, Ralph Lauren began work in a glove factory and then later moved to a tie factory. He got the idea to make ties a little wider by using distinctive, colorful materials and designs, and in 1967, he established the Polo label with a $50K loan. The ties were an immediate success and quickly became associated with status and wealth.

The 1970s

In the early 1970s, Ralph Lauren designed a popular line of women's suits, and the still-ubiquitous short-sleeved cotton men's shirt with the polo player logo was released. He also designed the costumes for the 1972 film "The Great Gatsby" and the 1978 Woody Allen classic "Annie Hall." He began appearing with his family in lifestyle tabloids, living the life he reflected with his brand name. Through films and tabloid appearances, the characteristic "look" of Ralph Lauren was created and widely emulated, and the label continued to be a status symbol.

The 1980s

Ralph Lauren's suits for men and women were considered the "power suits" of the early 1980s, though Armani became a competitor later on in this decade. In 1981, he opened his first international boutique in London. In 1983, Ralph Lauren first released his home collection of furniture, bedding and towels. He expanded his lines of women's clothing and began selling accessories such as scarves and eyeglasses. Ralph Lauren's fragrances for men became popular in the 1980s.

1990s and Onwards

In 1997, Polo/Ralph Lauren went public. The company now sells its products in nearly 11,000 stores and 315 Ralph Lauren boutiques worldwide. Ralph Lauren's success in the fashion industry is due in part to his talent in design and also to his innovative and keen business sense. Ralph Lauren's real talents are in merchandising and marketing. He was one of the first designers to put a visible logo on his clothes and to associate a particular image and lifestyle with his products.

Resources

• Ralph Lauren homepage