Polo Ralph Lauren Company History.

Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lipschitz in New York, USA, on October 14, 1939. He was brought up by his Jewish mother and shared a room with his two brothers. He served in the army from 1962 to 1964, before creating the famous Polo brand in 1967.

"I never went to fashion school," he says. "I was a young guy who had some style!" Starting off as a sales assistant, Ralph Lauren changed his name before opening his first store, which sold ties.

He is married with three children – Andrew, David, and Dylan. The Ralph Lauren name is about style – not fashion – and he named his specialty line after a sport that's all about elegance – polo. In 1969 he opened his first Polo shop-within-a-shop in Bloomingdale's in New York City. In 1971 he started his women's range, and in 1983, he became the first fashion designer to launch an entire home collection.

Clothes have not only contributed to Ralph Lauren's success, there's also the fragrances, accessories, footwear, leather goods, eyewear, hats, furniture, linen, glassware, a home fabrics, tablewear, and more recently clothing for boys, girls, infants, and toddlers!