A profile of Ralph Lauren and the company that bears his name.
After graduating from high school, Lauren studied business at City College in New York City, but dropped out before receiving his degree. In 1959, when he was nineteen, he and his brothers changed their last names from Lifshitz to Lauren.
Lauren knew he wanted to work with clothing and in his early career held several jobs with clothing companies, but he lacked direction.Lauren went on to work for a tie manufacturer, A. Rivetz & Co., which led to his big break in the fashion business. He started out as a salesman and eventually began designing ties.In 1967, an age of conservative business wear, he designed a line of wide, showy ties that became a hit.On the strength of that success, in 1968 Ralph Lauren started a business, which he named Polo Fashions.
In the early years, the company grew quickly with success after success. In 1970 Ralph Lauren won the prestigious Coty award for his men's designs.The following year Lauren launched his women's line of clothing, which introduced the polo player logo to the world.
In 1974, Ralph Lauren was asked by Paramount Studios to design the men's costumes for the feature film "The Great Gatsby."Diane Keaton and Woody Allen also wore Lauren's clothes in the 1977 film "Annie Hall."
1978 saw the release of the fragrance Polo for Men and a women's scent, Lauren.These were Ralph Lauren's first fragrances.He also branched into childrenswear by starting a line for boys, prompted by his wife's difficulty in finding good quality clothing for the couple's two sons.Today the childrenswear line includes clothing for girls and babies as well as boys.
The public first saw Polo's signature multipage ads in 1979. Colorful, 20-page magazine advertisements with little text drew the attention of people all over the country.
In 1981 Lauren opened a store in London, becoming the first American designer to do so.In 1983 the company launched a home collection, selling items such as rugs, bedding, towels and tablecloths.The home collection has since expanded to include lights, furniture and even paint.
On the personal front, Ralph Lauren underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in 1987.It was benign.He returned to work with a fervor and continued churning out new ideas for the company.
The economic downturn of the early nineties hit the fashion industry hard, and Polo Ralph Lauren felt it.28% of the company was sold to the investment firm Goldman Sachs.Polo continued to expand into new sectors of the market, and business improved.In 1997 Polo Ralph Lauren went from being a privately held company to one traded on the New York Stock Exchange, with Ralph Lauren as CEO and chief designer.
Polo Ralph Lauren has gone to great lengths to give back to the community.The company has set up a number of philanthropic programs, including a volunteer program where Polo employees lend a hand to non-profit organizations.Polo Ralph Lauren has given generous donations to cancer research and prevention programs, such as the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention and the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research.
Ralph Lauren's name is synonymous with class and traditional style.Through years of hard work and attention to detail, Ralph Lauren built the firm that bears his name from a small tie company to a fashion giant.Today Ralph Lauren is at the helm of a company that encompasses several labels, including Polo by Ralph Lauren, Polo Sport, Purple Label, Club Monaco, Lauren , Rugby and Polo Jeans Co., to name a few.
