Contents
Ralph Lauren
Building Polo into a global fashion brand around a recognisable vision of American style.
Polo ties · Polo shirt
- Born
- 14 October 1939
- Birthplace
- New York City, United States
More people
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American designer and entrepreneur whose business grew from neckties into clothing, interiors and accessories. His collections turned sporting, collegiate and Western imagery into a consistent brand language.
Early life
The Bronx
Grew up in New York; his father worked as a house painter and artist.
Business studies
Attended Baruch College before leaving without a degree.
Career
- 1960s
Sales experience
Worked in menswear and neckties after Army service.
- 1967–1968
Starting Polo
Launched ties, followed by a complete menswear collection.
- 1970s–1980s
Expansion
Developed womenswear, fragrances and home products.
- 2015
Leadership change
Stepped down as chief executive while retaining creative leadership.
Companies & projects
Polo ties
The starting point of his company.
Polo shirt
Cotton mesh shirts bearing the polo-player emblem.
Ralph Lauren Home
Expanded his design language into interiors.
Beyond business
Family
Married Ricky Loew-Beer in 1964; they have three children.
Collecting cars
Built a collection of historic cars that has featured in museum exhibitions.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: Arnaldo Anaya-Lucca. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
