The story of Polo Ralph Lauren is one of remarkable success, evolving from their humble origins on a Colorado ranch to becoming one of the most iconic brands in the world. Today, the Polo Ralph Lauren name creates anything & everything from clothing, accessories & perfumes to underwear, furniture, dishes, textiles, wallpapers & sweets. Check out our brief history behind the brand below.
History Of Polo Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren was born on October 14, 1939, in Belarus to a Jewish family named Lifshitz. Just before the outbreak of World War II, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Bronx, New York. In an effort to assimilate, his father changed their surname to Loren. Unlike other prominent fashion founders, Ralph didn't initially pursue a passion for art. Instead, he focused on a technical education in economics at Baruch College. However, his college journey was cut short due to the Vietnam War, which drafted young men like Ralph into military service. Fortunately, Ralph's military training ended as the war came to a ceasefire between North and South Vietnam, and he was not deployed overseas.
After his service, Ralph met and married Ricky Lowby. To support his new family, he took a job as a sales assistant at Brooks Brothers. It was during this time that Ralph discovered his flair for design. Fascinated by the "classic American dream," he was determined to turn his passion into a profitable venture. He began designing small outfits for women as a side hustle, which quickly gained traction. Building on his newfound talent, Ralph soon created his first major pieceãa silk tie for Rivetz & Co., marking the beginning of his career in the fashion industry.
How Polo Ralph Lauren Was Born
1967 marked a pivotal year for the Loren family, as Ralph took a bold step forward in his career. With a $50,000 loan, equivalent to about $1 million today, he launched his own brand, which he named "Polo Fashion." The brand focused on clothing designed specifically for polo, a sport associated with the wealthy and aristocratic elite. Ralph's choice to centre the brand around polo was strategic. At the time, the sport was closely tied to affluent individuals, and those who played it needed specialized apparel, bringing them into frequent contact with Ralph Lauren.
Ralph saw an opportunity to connect with this wealthy circle, drawing inspiration from a psychological concept known as "The Bank of Pickles." The idea is simple: to transform a cucumber into a pickled cucumber, it must first immerse itself in the jar. In much the same way, Ralph aspired to climb the social ladder and mingle with the affluent, hoping that by associating with them, he could elevate his status. His ambition to achieve the "American Dream" drove him to use his talent as a means to forge these connections - and it worked brilliantly.
Ralph Lauren's Polo clothing line quickly became a massive success, earning him the prestigious Coty Award in 1970 - his first of many accolades in the fashion world. Driven by passion and determination, Lauren transformed his Polo brand into the most recognized and beloved name in American fashion. To further cement his brand's identity, he made a bold move: changing the company name from "Polo Fashion" to "Polo Ralph Lauren." This decision skyrocketed the brand's visibility, boosting its recognition by an impressive 300% within just one year.
This success spurred further innovation, including the creation of the now-iconic Polo logo: a jockey on horseback, poised to strike a polo ball with a mallet. In 1971, Lauren launched the first collection featuring the new logo and brand name, which consisted of men's shirts. The collection was an immediate hit, selling out within three days at the official Polo Ralph Lauren store, solidifying the effectiveness of the changes and marking a turning point in his fashion empire.
Today, Polo Ralph Lauren focus on creating timeless collections of staple menswear, whilst nodding to their Colorado roots with the iconic horesman logo. Check out our collection below, available online & in-store now at Stuarts London.
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