Ralph Lauren

Ralph Rueben Lifshitz was born October 14, 1939. After changing his name to Ralph Lauren.http://www.infomat.com/WhosWho/RalphLauren.html He never attended Fashion design school he had chosen a business degree instead, Lauren found himself designing ties.http://www.infomat.com/WhosWho/RalphLauren.html

Ralph Lauren launched ‘’Polo Ralph Lauren’’ with a start up amount of $50,000 dollars in 1967. He began his line with a collection of ties. http://about.ralphlauren.com/default.asp?ab=footer_aboutus He worked for the tie company A. Rivetz & Co. and this was where he first got his start in fashion.http://www.infomat.com/WhosWho/RalphLauren.html

The ties were counter to the usual thin ties of the 1950’s and were immensely popular. In 1969 he set up his first boutique inside Bloomingdale's department store in Manhattan. In 1970, Lauren won his first Coty award for his designs. This new look of the ties were showing a rich lavish lifestyle and that is why Lauren named the line ‘’Polo’’.

As of 1971 Lauren had his first standalone store location in Beverly Hills, California and was developing his womenswear line. He included the ‘’Polo’’ emblem on the shirts that he created for women as well.

Later in 1981 he started his move over seas giving the line an international market. He had opened stores in London, Miami, Chicago, East Hampton, Chicago, East Hampton, Palm Beach, and Tokyo.http://www.ralphlauren.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=1760781

By 2007, he had opened over 35 boutiques in the United States and had increased his line to include boyswear and girlswear.

In addition the line of ‘’Chaps’’, the fragrance line was added. http://www.infomat.com/fido/search.fcn?&type=cmpname&searchstring=Ralph+Lauren&id=&scope=findPhrase

Ralph Lauren has lent his support, time and money in many charitable events and opportunities. He supports and encourages his employees and companies to join in and assist where they can. The Polo Ralph Lauren foundations works in Cancer care, education and service in the poorer under served communities. Even in the Fashion industry he has set up the Polo Fashion School which provides grants and educational opportunities for future designers.

The Polo Foundation has worked with Habitat for Humanity as well as American Heroes Fund. There are many such programs that the Ralph Lauren foundation has assisted.http://about.ralphlauren.com/philanthropy/default.asp

“My clothes are always visions of what I believe in. Someone once told me I was a writer, and it’s true—I write through my clothes. They’re whole stories, not just clothes.”http://about.ralphlauren.com/history/history.asp?year=1974

"I felt sure that there were no boundaries for Polo. I’m even more sure of that today."http://about.ralphlauren.com/default.asp

Ralph Lauren is listed on the New York Stock Exchange or NYSE, how it is listed is below. http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/rl.html

• Industry - Apparel Retailers
• Issue Type - Common Stock
• Country of Origin - United States
• Listing date - June 12 1997

According to the Options Intelligence Report on May 5, 2010 the Ralph Lauren stock is up by 40 %. http://www.theoptionsinsider.com/unusualactivity/?id=4448