Ralph Lauren Corporation | Success Story of the Leading Fashion Brand

Ralph Lauren Corporation is one of the most prominent fashion brands worldwide. The company has provided its customers with premium quality apparel for over five decades. Ralph Lauren Corp is headquartered in New York City and sells luxury clothing, homeware, footwear, fragrances, jewelry, furniture, and accessories. Renowned American fashion designer Ralph Lauren founded the brand in 1967. In 2021, the brand earned revenue worth $4.401 billion. From politicians to supermodels, everyone has endorsed Ralph Lauren’s products. 

About

Ralph Lauren Corporation is an American fashion label famous for its premium lifestyle products. The brand rose to fame during the 1970s. Within a few years of establishment, the company became a status symbol. In 1972, Ralph Lauren launched the iconic Polo line. It has been over five decades since its launch, yet it remains a classic piece. A-list celebrities like David Beckham, Jessica Alba, Lady Gaga, Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Zendaya, Chris Pine, Priyanka Chopra, and Hugh Jackman have endorsed the brand. The company operates over 500 retail stores worldwide. 

Founder

On the 14th of October 1939, Ralph Lifshitz was born in New York City, USA. His parents, Frank Lifshitz and Fraydl Kotlar, were Jewish immigrants from Belarus, Europe. Ralph grew up in a working-class neighborhood. He was the youngest of his three siblings. Ralph’s father worked as a painter and decorator. From a young age, Ralph was fascinated by fashion. While living in the Bronx, he watched movies to divert his mind from the harsh living conditions. Young Ralph liked living in an imaginary world. During his childhood years, his father’s artistry inspired him. Although Ralph immersed himself in the cinematic world, his mother wished that he become a “rabbi.” However, Ralph had a different vision. He wanted to create a new world.

During his teenage years, Ralph and his older brother changed their surname. Many children at school constantly bullied them because of their actual surname. Later, a few of their cousins in California had changed their surname to Lawrence. As a result, Ralph felt that he, too, should change it.  For schooling, he attended the Manhattan Talmudical Academy. It was an orthodox Jewish day school for boys. Later, he studied at the DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. After graduation, Lauren enrolled at the City University of New York’s Baruch College. At the university, he studied business. However, he dropped out before graduation. During 1962-64, Ralph served in the United States Army. Later, he began working as a salesman at the prestigious Brooks Brothers shop. 

Establishment of Ralph Lauren Corporation

After working at the Brooks Brothers shop, Ralph started working in the sales department of a necktie company. Around the same time, he decided to set up a necktie business. In 1967, while working for Beau Brummell, Ralph convinced the company to let him start a neckline line. As a result, he launched the tie line “Polo.” The handmade ties with vibrant colors made their mark in the store. Within a few months, Ralph’s neckties started gaining recognition. He began selling them to renowned retailers like Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. Later, after the tie collection’s success, Ralph decided to start a menswear line. By 1969, luxury departmental store Bloomingdale’s began selling Ralph’s menswear collection. Polo created history by becoming the first brand by a designer to have an in-store shop at Bloomingdale’s. Departmental stores across New York began selling Ralph Lauren’s ties and menswear lines by the late 1960s. 

Pathway to Success

In 1971, Ralph launched a womenswear line. He named it Polo Ralph Lauren. The same year, the brand opened its first standalone store on Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive. 1972 marked the launch of the iconic Polo sports shirt. It featured the brand’s trademark emblem, the polo player. By the mid-1970s, the Ralph Lauren Corporation’s popularity grew substantially. In 1974, the male cast of The Great Gatsby wore the Polo line. The brand’s acclaim continued to grow during the late 1970s. In 1978, Ralph ventured into the world of fragrances. After gaining recognition across the country, the company entered the European market. It opened its first international store in London, England. In 1983, Ralph Lauren Corp launched a wide range of home accessories. By the end of the 20th century, the company had become a household name.

Wider Recognition

After the launch of the accessible and affordable clothing and homeware line, Ralph Lauren Corp ventured into sportswear. The sportswear collection achieved massive success. In 2009, in collaboration with the luxury goods company Richemont, the Ralph Lauren corp launched a watch and jewelry collection. During the 2010s, the brand continued to launch successful clothing lines. It also designed parkas for the USA team during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The parkas featured wearable technology to control warmth for up to 11 hours. Besides being a fashion favorite, Ralph Lauren Corp has also made its mark in the entertainment industry. From A-list directors and actors to supermodels and singers, Polo remains to be a classic choice.

Also read: Calvin Klein | Success Story of the American Fashion House