About Ralph Lauren
You’d have trouble finding someone today who hasn’t heard of Ralph Lauren. But few know about the man behind the hugely successful fashion house. Company founder Ralph Lifshitz was born in the Bronx in 1939. After changing his surname legally to Lauren, the visionary was working as a clothing salesman when boredom led him to discover his talent for design. Despite his lack of training and experience, Ralph Lauren’s determination led him to start his own company, which he did with the help of his brother Jerry and a loan from a Manhattan clothing manufacturer. He originally named the company Polo Fashions, Inc., which launched the now iconic Polo clothing range. The company launched a classic range of shirts, suits, and sportswear, and ties, which were an immediate hit, perhaps because they were interesting and well designed without being too attention grabbing.

 
The company had their very own boutique store in Bloomingdale’s in 1969, and it quickly became clear that the company was destined for greatness. A sensational range of women’s clothing was launched just two years later, which capitalized on the classic features of men’s fashions and re-cut them to suit the female form. These days the Polo/Ralph Lauren Corporation is one of the leading forces in the world of style and fashion. Their impressive product range has expanded to include shoes, jewelry, perfume, hats, childrens clothes and a good deal more. The company has stores in all the major cities around the world, but its heart still remains in New York City where it was first formed.