Over a 50-year career, Ralph Lauren has built one of the world’s largest fashion and apparel empires,generatinga total ofabout $7 billion a year, from scratch.
His brandshave become synonymous with an optimistic andidealised take onpreppyAmericana,conjuringup,not just emotions and aspirations, butentire immersiveworlds, for which Lauren has been likened toWalt Disney.
Besides Ralph Lauren and Polo Ralph Lauren, the Ralph Lauren company also owns Polo & RLX Golf, Denim & Supply, RRLand Ralph Lauren Purple Label, as well as subsidiaries Club Monaco and Chaps, amongothers.
Lauren, originally named Ralph Lifsh*tz, grew up in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York and attended Baruch College. He was remembered by his classmates for his enterprising nature; in between lectures, the young Lauren would sell ties to his fellow students. After serving in the United States Army for two years, Lauren briefly took a job at Brooks Brothers as a sales assistant before leaving to join tie manufacturer, Beau Brummell.
In 1967, the company’s president agreed to let Lauren start his own line. Drawing on his interest in sports, Lauren called his line “Polo.” Against the trends of the day, his ties were wideand handmade from high-end fabrics. He worked out of a single drawerin a showroom in the Empire State Building and personally made deliveries to stores. In his first year in business, he sold $500,000 worth of ties to the most prestigious names in men’s clothing, including Paul Stuart, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.From these humble beginnings was born the American super brand that exists today.
On June 11, 1997, Ralph Lauren Corporation became a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Ralph Lauren and his family spend much of their time at one of the Lauren family homes including the Double RL Ranch, a 17,000-acre piece of land near Telluride, Colorado.
FAQs
He has become synonymous with a certain brand of American style, one that is both classic and contemporary, and has had a lasting impact on the fashion world as a whole. One of the key factors in Ralph Lauren's success has been his ability to create a lifestyle brand that extends beyond just clothing.
What was Ralph Lauren's famous quote? ›
I design dreams. Ralph Lauren once famously stated, "I don't design clothes. I design dreams." This quote encapsulates the visionary mindset of the renowned designer.
How does Ralph Lauren attract customers? ›
Through carefully curated campaigns, the brand showcases its latest collections and communicates its brand values to consumers. Print advertisem*nts are featured in high-end fashion magazines and lifestyle publications, allowing Ralph Lauren to reach a wide audience of luxury fashion enthusiasts.
What influenced Ralph Lauren to start their own business? ›
After high school, he took business classes at night school and worked in sales by day. While working for a tie company, he was inspired to begin designing his own neckwear, and in 1967 he went into business for himself, marketing his unique line of ties under the name Polo.
What impact has Ralph Lauren had on society? ›
Lauren started several charitable foundations. He mainly focused on helping cancer survivors and cancer research. Ralph partnered with several others in philanthropic initiatives for the upliftment and recognition of cancer survivors. He is a true inspiration for young entrepreneurs, especially in the fashion industry.
How did Ralph Lauren start his career in the fashion industry? ›
After serving in the United States Army for two years, Lauren briefly took a job at Brooks Brothers as a sales assistant before leaving to join tie manufacturer, Beau Brummell. In 1967, the company's president agreed to let Lauren start his own line.
Why is Ralph Lauren so famous? ›
For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren has sought to inspire the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style. Its reputation and distinctive image have been developed across a wide range of products, brands, distribution channels and international markets.
What does Ralph Lauren symbolize? ›
The name Ralph Lauren is synonymous with excellence, legacy, and power.
Who was Ralph Lauren's inspiration? ›
Early years. At the age of 12, Ralph Lauren — inspired by Fred Astaire and Cary Grant — is already known at school for his expensive suits.
How did Ralph Lauren gain popularity? ›
Overall, the combination of iconic branding, classic style, celebrity endorsem*nts, effective marketing, diverse product offerings, retail presence, and quality products has helped Ralph Lauren clothes become immensely popular and establish the brand as a leader in the fashion industry.
Ralph Lauren is a Company built on authenticity.
His creativity, spirit, and perseverance through all these years are what make Ralph Lauren what it is today: an internationally recognized brand and leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium apparel, accessories, home goods, and fragrances.
Why do people love Ralph Lauren? ›
Ralph Lauren has created a language of design that speaks to the best of the United States: freedom, fairness and liberty. He is, writes Wei Koh, America's poet laureate of style.
How did Ralph Lauren change fashion? ›
By successfully mixing a new age identity with classical designs, Ralph Lauren has maintained its appeal with a wide range of consumers. This has also allowed it to attract consumers from different age groups, and has allowed it to hold on to them as they have progressively aged.
What is an interesting fact about Ralph Lauren? ›
Ralph Lauren Corporation :
In 1968, Lauren named his first menswear line 'Polo' after his favorite sport. He worked out of a single “drawer” from a showroom in the Empire State Building and made deliveries to stores himself. By 1969, the Manhattan department store Bloomingdale's sold Lauren's men's line exclusively.
What was Ralph Lauren's motivation? ›
"He was obsessed with his own taste, and he was determined to live the life he began to dream of when he was a young kid going to the movies." Lauren's budding fashion label began when he designed wide-cut neckties with colorful patterns that looked like the ones he saw actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Why was Ralph Lauren so influential? ›
Ralph Lauren established the way for future designers in the American male fashion industry. Ralph Lauren is a brand that is widely associated with preppy luxury and a return to adolescence. Polo shirts by Ralph Lauren were so successful that the brand had to delete the word ``polo'' from its name.
How is Ralph Lauren socially responsible? ›
We strive to operate our business in ways that respect our planet, such as using renewable energy, managing our waste properly and using our water responsibly. By adopting practices that help preserve the world's natural sources, we can be stewards in protecting our environment for generations to come.
What is Ralph Lauren best known for? ›
Ralph Lauren Corporation is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of luxury lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, footwear & accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality.
