History of the Ralph Lauren Brand

Ralph Lauren, synonymous with polo shirts, has been at the forefront of fashion for over forty years. Becoming a worldwide front runner in fashion, Ralph Lauren has established himself as a legendary designer and entrepreneur, all without ever studying fashion; he even dropped out of his business course in college after just two years.

The Ralph Lauren Brand initially started with a necktie store in 1967, backed by Norman Hilton. Ties of his own design were also sold in the store under his own label, `Polo,` marking the start of the legendary brand.

Ralph Lauren pitched his ties to a number of stores, most notable the department store Bloomingdales, who demanded he take his name off the label and make the ties narrower. However upon noticing the success of the label the store soon agreed to the terms set out by Ralph Lauren.

The coveted COTY Award for menswear was presented to Ralph Lauren in 1970, at the same time that he releases a line of women`s suits, tailored in a classic male style. This was also the first time that the famous Polo emblem was unveiled. Due to the immense success of the female suits, Ralph Lauren released his famed short sleeve mesh shirt in 1972. Available in a range of 24 colours, the shirt soon became a hit and is now a classic in the Ralph Lauren brand.

Upon the success of his fashion brand, Ralph Lauren began to branch out into other products, such as cologne and bed items. He launched his popular cologne in the 1970s and bath and bed items in 1983; the latter eventually grew into crafted home furniture.
Due to his major contribution to fashion, Ralph Lauren won the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of American Lifetime Achievement Award in 1981.

In 1984, Ralph Lauren transformed the Rhinelander Mansion, former home of the famous photographer Edgar de Evia and Robert Denning, into the labels flagship store. By 2007, Ralph Lauren had over 35 boutiques in the United States with twenty three locations carrying Ralph Lauren Purple Label.
The Ralph Lauren brand over the years has become one of the most recognized symbols across the world; the Polo played imprinted on the left breast of a knit shirt is instantly recognisable. With the range of clothing styles such as Polo Ralph Lauren Shorts, Polo Shirts and suits, the label offers clothing for everyone and every occasion.