Ralph Lauren: Necktie salesman became a design legend
As a boy of Jewish immigrant descent, Ralph Lauren was fascinated by the cool looks of wealthy New York children.
Ralph Lauren gained a lot of attention recently, after HBO released a documentary celebrating his 50th career anniversary. The film depicts a second-generation young man from the Jewish immigrant family, becoming a world fashion legend as an embodiment of the American dream come true.
Introducing Ralph Lauren
Born in the state of Bronx (New York), Ralph was often teased by friends because of his hard-to-read Lifshitz. At the age of 16, he and his brother changed to Lauren to avoid malicious jokes at school.
Ralph has been fascinated with fashion since he was a child, interested in learning fabrics, costumes, and different combinations. In the early 1960s, Ralph Lauren worked for the Brooks Brothers brand for a while and then worked as a salesman for the Beau Brummell tie company. The young man, more than 20 years old, having never attended any design classes, often asked his boss to make wider ties than usual but “the world is not ready for Ralph Lauren”, the shop owner speaking (according to Haarets).
In 1967, Ralph left and founded his own company – Polo Ralph Lauren. The name famous throughout the United States after only a few years. Polo is an equestrian sport for nobility originating from Central Asia, with him polo means a whole lifestyle. “What kind of person will play polo? Rich, pompous and luxurious. From the name, I want to create a direction,” Ralph told Hello magazine.
The first ties were designed to be 4 inches wide instead of 2.5 inches as usual. Soon after, he received an order for 100 units from the luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus. Bloomingdale had asked Ralph to lower the tie width to 1/4 inch and replace Polo with the store name. Half a year later, Bloomingdale returned and agreed to keep it all.
In the late 1960s, Ralph began to launch collections (BSTs) of suits and T-shirts that fit his tie. The Guardian quoted his interview in 2014: “At that time, T-shirt companies only produced shirts, similar to vest and necktie manufacturers. But I did it all. It was a step forward”.
In 1971, the designer – then 32 years old – first launched the collection for women. A year later, he introduced a cotton shirt, short-sleeved and collared with 24 different colors to make a breakthrough for Polo Ralph Lauren brand as well as world fashion history. Ralph learned this model from French tennis legend Jean Rene Lacoste and made it popular in the lockers of millions of people around the world, becoming a symbol of elegance, power and aspiration. Today, polo has moved beyond a fashion trend and has become popular.
In the following years, success continued. In 1974, Ralph’s design appeared in the film The Great Gatsby – the Oscar-winning film “Outstanding Costume Design”. Four years later, Ralph continued to design for the famous Oscar film Annie Hall. In 1999, Gwyneth Paltrow wore a pink dress given by her designer to receive an Oscar for “Best Actress”.
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph Lauren’s pink dress won an Oscar. Photo: AFP.
Currently, Ralph Lauren has become a legendary name in the fashion world. From a tie seller, spent more than 50 years, thanks to creativity and passion for fashion, Ralph Lauren rose to become the 100th richest billionaire of the United States this year (according to Forbes).
Fashion style combining luxury and mass
In his first and latest documentary about himself, Ralph said he did not hunt or follow new trends. He creates luxurious, classy, but universal designs – that’s how the Lauren brand endures.
American imprint again and again in Ralph’s designs becomes an endless source of creative inspiration for him. “I discovered a timeless, free and natural America like the Earth, it touches my soul, be a part of what I create. ” From 1978 to 1981, the fashion house launched two collections: Polo Western and Santa Fe, with inspiration ranging from cow skirts, leather belts, bear-vest suits of North American cowherds to bold motifs. Native American Indians of South America. Going into the culture makes the design of fashion houses popular throughout the country and the world.
Inspiration of America combined with high fashion created the impression of Ralph Lauren. Lauren’s fascination with aristocracy, the coolness of a rich kid in New York or the fashion in Hollywood movies he watched as a kid showed up in costumes, like a pink suit for men actor Robert Redford (The Great Gastby), a 1999 Oscar gown and £ 70 polo shirts.
Luxury but not strange Ralph Lauren brand, as fashion critic Colin McDowell commented on The Guardian: “Lauren helps the poor and unhappy feel they can step in and be part of the magic “.
Vanity Fair magazine editor Paul Goldberger commented on Ralph’s success in the American dreamer: “I often wonder why Armani, Zegna and Canali’s men’s clothing areas on Saks Fifth Avenue are all so sharp with modern furniture, while the Polo Ralph Lauren area is more like an English club, perhaps because Lauren products offer more promise than the joy of owning a luxury item. Whether it’s a summer apartment by the beach, a winter ski resort, a western farm, or an attic room, every moment of life features Lauren products. People love them. “
MC Oprah Winfrey commented in an interview with the 80-year-old fashion house: “Ralph Lauren sells not only fashion. He sells the life you aspire to touch. Owning Ralph’s design also means that you are with Enjoy the taste of the American dream. “
The designer shared in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his career. “50 years ago, I started with an idea and a dream. For me, that dream has never been about fashion, it will be about an eternal style and things that are familiar, dear. “
Ralph Lauren was born in 1939 in the Bronx district (New York). Besides fashion, he is a wealthy businessman and a generous philanthropist. Lauren is ranked 100th among 400 richest people in America by Forbes with net-worth of 6.3 billion USD. At the same time, Ralph is a philanthropist against breast cancer with many positive activities.
Bao Thu
