CNN Editorial Research

Here’s a glimpse into the life of American fashion designer and philanthropist Ralph Lauren.

Staff

Date of Birth: October 14, 1939

Place of birth: Bronx, New York

Birth name: Ralph Rueben Lifshitz

Father: Frank Lifshitz, house painter and artist

Mother: Frieda (Knife) Lifshitz

Wedding: Ricky (Low-Beer) Lauren (December 1964-present)

Children: Dylan, 1974; David, 1971; André, 1969

Education: Attended Baruch College in Manhattan

Military service: US Army Reserves

Other facts

Changed her last name to Lauren at age 16.

Is the only designer to win the four highest honors from the Council of Fashion Designers of America: Lifetime Achievement Award, Womenswear Designer of the Year Award, Menswear Designer of the Year Award and Retailer of the Year Award.

Ralph Lauren Corporation has over 450 stores worldwide and includes brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Double RL, Polo Ralph Lauren Children’s, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Lauren Home, Chaps and Club Monaco.

Under contract as a uniform designer for the US Olympic team from 2008 to 2020.

Lauren has four restaurants: RL Restaurant in Chicago, Ralph’s in Paris, Ralph’s Coffee & Bar in London, and the Polo Bar in New York.

Lauren’s daughter, Dylan Lauren, is the founder of the Dylan’s Candy Bar chain of candy stores.

Chronology

1967 – While working at Beau Brummel Ties, Inc., he designed a collection of wide, handmade ties, which he called “Polo”.

1968 – Launches a line of men’s clothing.

1970 – Wins its first Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, for men’s fashion.

1971 – Launches a line of women’s clothing.

September 1971 – Opens its first Polo Ralph Lauren retail store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

1974 – Credited for creating the clothes worn by Robert Redford and the other male protagonist in “The Great Gatsby”.

nineteen eighty one – Opening of the first international Polo store in London.

1986 – Inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame.

April 1987 – Undergoes surgery to remove a benign brain tumor.

1989 – Co-founded the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research at Georgetown University, in honor of her friend, former Washington Post fashion editor Nina Hyde.

1991 – Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

1994 – Launches the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) initiative.

1994 – Goldman Sachs buys 28% of Polo Ralph Lauren for $ 135 million.

September 1996 – Lauren receives the first humanitarian award from the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research from Princess Diana.

June 11, 1997 – The initial public offering of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. raises $ 767 million.

1998 – Donate $ 13 million to the Smithsonian to help preserve the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner.

April 2001 – Establishes the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, which supports causes such as cancer care and prevention, education and literacy programs, volunteerism, and preservation and restoration efforts.

2003 – Partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to establish Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in Harlem, New York.

June 2007 – Presented the very first CFDA American Fashion Legend Award.

June 2009 – Recipient of the first CFDA Popular Vote Award, where the public votes for their favorite creator.

April 2010 – Receives the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur, the highest French distinction, from the hands of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

October 14, 2010 – Presented with a key to the city of New York.

July 2012 – Responding to criticism from some lawmakers and human rights activists that U.S. athlete uniforms for the 2012 Summer Olympics were made in China, Lauren issues a statement confirming that the 2014 Games uniforms will be made in the country.

June 17, 2014 – Lauren receives the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal for her contribution to the preservation of the American flag commemorated in the Star Spangled Banner.

September 29, 2015 – Announces he is stepping down as CEO of Ralph Lauren Corp. Lauren will become Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer.

September 7, 2018 – A parade and black tie gala in Central Park in New York City commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Lauren brand.

June 19, 2019 – Knighted by Prince Charles. Lauren becomes the first American designer to receive the title of British knight.

November 12, 2019 – HBO’s documentary “Very Ralph” has been released.

March 26, 2020 – Lauren donates $ 10 million to coronavirus relief efforts.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.