It was founded by designer Ralph Lauren, who still serves as CEO, Chairman , and Chief designer for the company. Ralph Lauren (born Ralph Lifschitz on October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer and business executive. According to New York magazine, Ralph Lauren is “The first Image-Maker”, he is one of the fashion industry’s biggest hitters, but he studied business science and served his time in the army before breaking into fashion. Ralph Lauren was born and raised in Bronx, New York, by his middle-class Jewish parents who had emigrated from Belarus. In 1974 he was hired to create outfits for Robert Redford’s character in the film The Great Gatsby which became Ralph Lauren’s first big break. In the 1980s people were soon speaking of Ralph Lauren as the “Laurenification of America” and crediting him with creating a unique American Aesthetic, which claimed the 80s as the “decade of Ralph Lauren”. The design skills, image making, and marketing skills of Ralph Lauren and his principal partner, Peter Storm are what contributed to the company’s success. On June 13, 1997 the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange. The Founder and Chairman Ralph Lauren sold nearly 18 million of his own shares for $464.4 million; retaining 90 percent of voting rights through is ownership of all outstanding class B stock. Due to unexploited world markets and an underdeveloped women’s line, some analysts felt the stock had good growth potential even though the shares traded at a premium. In 1998 Polo Ralph Lauren announced 250 jobs cuts and nine stores closings; it also opened a flagship store in Chicago and fine-dining RL-branded restaurant next door a few months later. In March of 1999, Polo Ralph Lauren had 56 stores in Canada and 13 in the U.S., and paid $80 million for Club Monaco, Inc., a chain of trendy clothing stores based in Toronto that attracted
It was founded by designer Ralph Lauren, who still serves as CEO, Chairman , and Chief designer for the company. Ralph Lauren (born Ralph Lifschitz on October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer and business executive. According to New York magazine, Ralph Lauren is “The first Image-Maker”, he is one of the fashion industry’s biggest hitters, but he studied business science and served his time in the army before breaking into fashion. Ralph Lauren was born and raised in Bronx, New York, by his middle-class Jewish parents who had emigrated from Belarus. In 1974 he was hired to create outfits for Robert Redford’s character in the film The Great Gatsby which became Ralph Lauren’s first big break. In the 1980s people were soon speaking of Ralph Lauren as the “Laurenification of America” and crediting him with creating a unique American Aesthetic, which claimed the 80s as the “decade of Ralph Lauren”. The design skills, image making, and marketing skills of Ralph Lauren and his principal partner, Peter Storm are what contributed to the company’s success. On June 13, 1997 the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange. The Founder and Chairman Ralph Lauren sold nearly 18 million of his own shares for $464.4 million; retaining 90 percent of voting rights through is ownership of all outstanding class B stock. Due to unexploited world markets and an underdeveloped women’s line, some analysts felt the stock had good growth potential even though the shares traded at a premium. In 1998 Polo Ralph Lauren announced 250 jobs cuts and nine stores closings; it also opened a flagship store in Chicago and fine-dining RL-branded restaurant next door a few months later. In March of 1999, Polo Ralph Lauren had 56 stores in Canada and 13 in the U.S., and paid $80 million for Club Monaco, Inc., a chain of trendy clothing stores based in Toronto that attracted