Ralph Lauren was born in Bronx, New York in 1939 to Jewish immigrant parents. After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1957 he began studying at Baruch College of the City University of New York, but dropped out after just two years.

 

Lauren had a brief stint in the US Army from being discharged in 1964 where he briefly worked as a sales assistant for Brooks Brothers. After switching to a necktie company named Rivetz,  Lauren managed to convince the company president to start his own necktie line in 1967 under his own name.

 

Lauren branched out in to polo mensware in 1968 and then womenswear in 1971, showcasing his first full women in 1972. 1974 saw his first collaboration with Hollywood as the costum designer for the male cast of the The Great Gatsby film. Lauren saw another film.collabkration in 1977 in Woody Allen’s film  Annie Hall.

 

After launching his first co-ed fragrance line in 1978, Lauren went international and opened the first ever store of an American designer brand in London in 1981.

 

Lauren’s work has gained him many awards and editorial appearances over the years including The American Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award in 1989 for fashion and design, various CFDA awards including Humanitarian Leadership and the American Fashion Legend Award.

 

Most notably in 2019, Lauren was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.