1960S
1967
Ralph Lauren establishes the Polo label with an instantly successful line of ties. In direct opposition to the narrow ties and conventional styles of the time, Lauren designs wide, handmade ties using unexpected, flamboyant, opulent materials. The ties quickly become a menswear status item.
A tie was the way a man expressed himself. I believed that men were ready for something new and different. They didn’t want to look as if they worked for IBM. A beautiful tie was an expression of quality, taste, style.
Already interested in promoting a lifestyle with his ties, Ralph Lauren names his line after a sport that embodies a world of discreet elegance and classic style: Polo.
1968
I believe in a level of taste, a total feeling. It is important to show the customer how to wear these ties, the idea behind the look.
His exceptional ties are only the first step. Ralph Lauren is at the forefront of the men’s fashion revolution in America. He is the first to merge classic American style with the refinement, tailoring and sensibility of European fashion. Lauren establishes Polo as a leading menswear company dedicated to providing a total look.
I never went to fashion school? I was a young guy who had some style. I never imagined Polo would become what it is. I just followed my instincts.
1969
“My customers were people who needed a change and didn’t know how to do it—people who were looking for something new, but didn’t like the transience of fashion.”
Polo by Ralph Lauren establishes the first shop-within-a-shop designer boutique for men in Bloomingdale’s in New York City.
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