Ralph Lauren facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ralph Lauren
Lauren in 2013
Born	Ralph Lifshitz (1939-10-14) October 14, 1939 (age 85) The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Baruch College (dropped out)
Occupation	Executive chairman, Ralph Lauren Corporation
Board member of	Ralph Lauren Corporation Club Monaco
Spouse(s)	Ricky Loew-Beer ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	3, including Dylan and David Lauren
Relatives	Greg Lauren (nephew)

Ralph Lauren (born October 14, 1939) is a famous American fashion designer and businessman. He is known for starting the global brand Ralph Lauren. He was the CEO of his company until September 2015, but he still works as the executive chairman and chief creative officer. He is also a philanthropist, meaning he gives money and time to help others. As of May 2025, he is a billionaire.

Early Life and Education

Ralph Lauren was born in the Bronx, New York City, on October 14, 1939. His parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe. He was the youngest of four children. When he was 16, he and his brother changed their last name from Lifshitz to Lauren. They did this because they were teased at school.

He went to high school and then studied business at Baruch College in New York City. However, he left college after two years.

Starting a Fashion Career

Early Steps in Fashion

Before starting his own company, Ralph Lauren served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. After that, he worked as a sales assistant for a clothing company called Brooks Brothers. Later, he became a salesman for a necktie company.

At 28 years old, he convinced his boss at Beau Brummell, another tie company, to let him create his own line of ties. This was the beginning of The Ralph Lauren Corporation in 1967, starting with men's ties.

The Polo Brand Begins

Ralph Lauren loved sports, so he named his first full collection of men's clothing 'Polo' in 1968. He started small, working from a single "drawer" in a showroom. He even delivered clothes to stores himself!

By 1969, a big department store in New York City called Bloomingdale's sold only Lauren's men's clothes. This was a big deal because it was the first time Bloomingdale's gave a designer their own special area in the store.

The Polo Ralph Lauren flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City

In 1971, Ralph Lauren added a line of shirts for women. This was when the famous Polo player logo first appeared on the shirts. The next year, he launched a full collection of women's clothing. Also in 1971, he opened his first stand-alone store in Beverly Hills, California. This was a first for an American designer.

In 1972, the company introduced its well-known cotton mesh Polo shirt in many colors. This shirt, with its polo player logo, became a symbol of the "preppy" style that Ralph Lauren is famous for. The advertisements for the shirt said, "Every team has its color – Polo has seventeen."

Ralph Lauren's clothes also became famous in movies. In 1974, he designed the costumes for the male actors in the film The Great Gatsby. He created 1920s-style suits and sweaters. Later, in 1977, Diane Keaton and Woody Allen wore his clothes throughout the movie Annie Hall.

Expanding with Fragrances

Lauren in his office in 1978

In 1978, Ralph Lauren launched his first perfumes and colognes. He introduced two scents at the same time: "Lauren" for women and "Polo" for men. This was a new idea for a designer. The company also started selling its products in Europe in 1981, opening a store in London, England.

Growth in the Late 1900s

A Polo Ralph Lauren store in Chicago

In 1986, Ralph Lauren opened his first large flagship store in a beautiful old mansion in New York City. He made the building look grand and luxurious again. The company continued to grow, adding new clothing lines like Polo Sport in 1992 and Ralph Lauren Purple Label in 1995.

On June 12, 1997, the Ralph Lauren company became a publicly traded company. This meant people could buy shares of the company on the New York Stock Exchange.

Ralph Lauren also opened restaurants. The first one, "RL," opened in Chicago in 1999. Later, "Ralph's" opened in Paris in 2010, and "The Polo Bar" opened in New York in 2015.

Recent Years and Milestones

Ralph Lauren Store on Newbury Street in Boston

In 2000, the company launched its website, polo.com, for online shopping. In 2007, it became ralphlauren.com. In 2008, Ralph Lauren created a new brand called American Living, sold only at JCPenney stores.

In September 2015, Ralph Lauren announced that Stefan Larsson would take over as CEO. Ralph Lauren remained the executive chairman and chief creative officer.

Ralph Lauren has been featured on the covers of many famous magazines, including Architectural Digest, GQ, Forbes, and Vogue.

In September 2018, Ralph Lauren celebrated the 50th anniversary of his brand with a big fashion show in Central Park in New York City. Many famous people attended, like Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton.

Personal Life and Interests

Family Life

Ralph Lauren married Ricky Ann Loew-Beer on December 20, 1964, in New York City. They met when she was working as a receptionist. Ricky Lauren is also an author.

They have three children, including David Lauren and Dylan Lauren. In 2011, David married Lauren Bush, who is the niece of former U.S. President George W. Bush.

In 1987, Ralph Lauren had surgery to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor and fully recovered. He owns a large ranch in Colorado and a manor in New York.

Amazing Car Collection

Ralph Lauren with his Porsche GT3 RS (2010)

Ralph Lauren is famous for his amazing collection of about 100 rare cars. Some of his cars are incredibly special, like a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, and a 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK "Count Trossi."

His cars have won top awards at car shows, including "Best of Show" at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance twice. Parts of his collection have been shown in art museums in Boston and Paris. In 2017, his car collection was even a highlight during New York Fashion Week.

Giving Back to the Community

Fighting Cancer

Ralph Lauren has given a lot of money and support to help fight cancer. In 1989, he helped start the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research. In 1994, he created Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, which raises money and awareness for breast cancer research around the world.

In 2003, he supported the creation of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem, New York City. This center helps people get important cancer screenings and treatments. In 2014, his company partnered with the Royal Marsden, a large cancer center in Europe, to develop a breast cancer research facility. The Royal Marsden Ralph Lauren Center for Breast Cancer Research opened in 2016. In 2023, another Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention opened at Georgetown University.

Community Support

In 2000, the Ralph Lauren Corporation started a Volunteer Program. This program encourages employees to help out in their communities. The Pink Pony Campaign, launched in 2000, works to make cancer care fair for everyone, especially in communities that don't have as many resources.

The Polo Jeans G.I.V.E. (Get Involved, Volunteer, Exceed) campaign, started in 2006, encourages people to volunteer. It supports groups like Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for people in need.

After the September 11th attacks, the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation created the American Heroes Fund. This fund allowed employees and customers to help with relief efforts.

In 2004, the Polo Fashion School was created. In this program, company leaders work with young people from cities to teach them about the fashion business.

Preserving History

Ralph Lauren also helped save an important piece of American history. In 1998, he gave $10 million to help preserve the Star-Spangled Banner. This is the original 1813 flag that inspired the United States National Anthem. The flag is now displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. In 2013, the Ralph Lauren Corporation also promised to help restore the famous École des Beaux-Arts art school in Paris, France.

Awards and Special Honors

Ralph Lauren has received many awards for his work in fashion and for his charity efforts.

See also

In Spanish: Ralph Lauren para niños

• List of fashion designers