Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer who is perhaps most known for its Polo Ralph Lauren line of products, also sometimes colloquially referred to as Ralph Lauren Polo, shirts and t-shirts.

Ralph Lauren was born on 14th October 1939. Since his childhood he had a keen interest in men’s suits. In 1967, with financial help from Norman Hilton, he began designing and manufacturing his own range of neckties under the Ralph Lauren brand name. In 1968, Ralph started his own line of neckties under the name "Polo". The following year saw the brand inaugurate a boutique store inside Manhattan’s Bloomingdale’s. For men’s clothing Ralph Lauren won the first Coty Awards (later became Council of Fashion Designers of America - CFDA) in 1971. In 1972, the brand’s most iconic offeringóthe Polo Ralph Lauren shirt was unveiled. 1976 saw Ralph Lauren enter the Coty Hall of Fame for Menswear, and in 1977 he was nominated to the Coty Hall of Fame for Women wear. The Ralph Lauren brand transcended the Atlantic in 1981 when it launched its first overseas store in London’s New Bond Street. Polo Ralph Lauren opened its flagship store in the prolific and famous Rhinelander Mansion at 72nd Street, Madison Avenue, NYC in the year 1986. In 1992, Ralph Lauren was awarded the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award, which made him the only fashion designer in America to have received the four highest CFDA honours. The 1990s then saw Ralph Lauren experience increased popularity, and the company introduced many new lines and collections. The company also experimented a lot in this period and ventured into many unknowns. Further, the Ralph Lauren name continued expanding in the decade of 2000s as well.

The Ralph Lauren mens range includes the following lines: Purple Label, Black Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, and many more. The exhaustive range for men comprises shirts, t-shirts, suits, trousers and accessories such as belts, wallets bags and Ralph Lauren aftershaves.

The extensive Ralph Lauren ladies range includes the following lines: Collection, Black Label, Blue Label and many more. The Ralph Lauren ladies rage comprises dresses, skirts, shirts, jackets and accessories such as sunglasses, shoes, jewellery, perfumes, handbags, belts and hats. Of the Ralph Lauren ladies collection, Ralph Lauren bags and Ralph Lauren jackets are the brand’s more prolific women’s fashion offerings.

The Ralph Lauren products range also includes perfumes and fragrances for both men and women. There is also a separate line for children and babies - the Ralph Lauren Children and Baby.

Even though Ralph Lauren’s product range is very comprehensive the brand is identified by its Polo Ralph Lauren shirt., which is also the company’s most successful offering.

Among Ralph Lauren’s competitors in men’s clothing, perhaps the noteworthy are TM Lewin and Paul Smith. As designer clothes can be very expensive, it is not uncommon to find second-hand, cheap or discounted designer clothing online. Designer clothing can be found on sale on many online trading and shopping sites.