The name of American clothing designer Ralph Lauren has
become associated with class and taste.
In addition to clothing, he designs home decorating products such as
furniture, bedding, drapes, towels, rugs, china, and silverware.
The youngest of four children, Ralph Lifshitz was born in
the Bronx, New York, on October 14, 1939.
His father was a house painter.
Ralph became interested in clothes when he was in seventh grade. He changed his name to Lauren in the
mid-1950s. After graduating high school
he worked as a salesman and began studying business at night. He quit school after a few months, spent time
in the army, and then looked for a job in fashion.
Lauren started his own company and launched a line of men’s
clothing, Polo, offering styles that were a mix of English and American
styles. Lauren’s menswear was a success;
and in 1971 he introduced his women’s line.
As the years went by he continued to branch out into children’s clothes,
colognes, footwear, home products, and other merchandise while building an
American Fashion Empire.
