Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) is American fashion designer Ralph Lauren's luxury lifestyle company. Polo Ralph Lauren specializes in high-end casual/semi-formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories, fragrance, home (bedding, towels) and housewares. [edit] History The brand was launched in 1967 when Ralph Lauren, born Ralph Lifschitz, got a $50,000 loan. Prior to starting Ralph Lauren, he worked for Brooks Brothers. In 1968 he started a line of men's ties. By 1969 he had a boutique store within the Manhattan department store Bloomingdale's. In 1971, Polo Ralph Lauren launched its first women's collection and his first standalone store in Beverly Hills, California. Ten years later, in 1981, the brand went global with its first international store on London's New Bond Street. The Polo Sport line was introduced in 1993.[1] The brand now produces clothing, accessories, fragrances, furniture, operates the restaurant RL in Chicago, and sponsors a Harlem cancer center in association with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The flagship store is located in the former Rhinelander Mansion on Madison Avenue in New York City. Other flagship stores are located in Chicago, East Hampton, London, Miami, Milan, Palm Beach, and Tokyo.[2] Ralph Lauren is one of the largest retailers in the United States with revenues reaching $4.2 billion in 2007.[3] [edit] Polo classics One of the most famous pieces in the Polo line is the classic polo short-sleeved knit shirt featuring the Polo player on the left breast of the shirt. This shirt in particular became a fashion must-have in the 1980s with the preppy set. Other Polo classics include the cashmere cableknit sweater, chinos and the oxford cloth button-down shirt. [edit] Brands Since Ralph Lauren's first brand, Polo, was launched in 1967, the company has expanded to include a variety of luxury brands. They include: [edit] Clothing for men  A pair of Polo mens shoes. - Purple Label: Launched in 1994, this is Ralph Lauren's signature, and highest end men's line with classic, traditionally British styling. It includes ready-to-wear, suits and sportcoats (made by St. Andrews and Cantarelli), dress shirts, sportswear, accessories, and footwear, as well as a collection of made-to-order suits, sportcoats, shoes (made by British company Edward Green), dress shirts, exotic skin luggage, small leather goods, and jewelry. Purple Label is only available in Ralph Lauren stores, the company's online store and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.
- Black Label: Black Label for men is Ralph's more modern, Italian, edgy lifestyle brand. The cut to its suits, sportcoats (made by Raffaele Caruso), dress shirts, and sportswear, is more slim in design and silhouette. Black Label was started in 2005 and is also only available in flagship Ralph Lauren stores, the company's online store and selected high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales.
- Polo Ralph Lauren: Polo is Ralph's original brand for men, and also the most widely available. This 'blue label' line spans from tailored clothing (ready-to-wear and made to measure), sportswear, accessories (including luggage) to small leather goods. Available at many department and specialty stores as well as Ralph Lauren stores and the company's online store.
- Polo Golf: A sporty collection catering to golfers since 1987 and often featuring celebrity golfers as advertising models (see Sports sponsorship below).[4]
- Polo Denim: A 2007 relaunch of the Polo Jeans Co. line of 1996. Denim basics available online and in department stores.
- Lauren Ralph Lauren: Basics and suiting. Divided into Green and Silver (slightly slimmer cuts) Label. Available primarily through department and outlet stores, and not at RL stores or ralphlauren.com.
- Ralph by Ralph Lauren: Exclusively available at Dillard's stores, this label offers suits, sport coats, dress trousers and suit vests.
[edit] Clothing for women - Collection: The highest-end clothing line for women (which also carries a purple label), Ralph Lauren Collection is what walks the runway each fashion season. Collection is the ultimate expression of Ralph's Lifestyle vision for the season. The collection includes classic eveningwear, tailored blazers, outerwear, sportswear, handbags, Jewelry, and other small leather goods and accessories. Collection is sold exclusively through Ralph Lauren Boutiques and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales.
- Black Label: An extension of the Collection line, with modern, high-end casual and semi-formal women's wear. Black Label clothing can be found at Ralph Lauren Boutiques and high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales.
- Blue Label: Introduced as Blue Label in 2002. Similar in price point and styling to the Polo men's line; has classic American styling. Knit polo-style shirts with the Polo pony are part of the Blue Label line. Blue Label is available exclusively through Ralphlauren.com and through Polo Ralph Lauren stores, including factory outlet stores.
- Lauren Ralph Lauren: Less pricey versions of Blue Label styles. Available at Ralphlauren.com and higher-end department stores. Available in Plus sizes.
- RALPH by Ralph Lauren: A now discontinued line for younger women, created in 1999. Desbribed in the history section of the company's web site as: "RALPH is the daughter of the Lauren woman—reasonably priced Ralph Lauren clothes for young women who want to be part of the lifestyle."[5]
- Ralph Lauren Golf: Golf attire collection for women. Launched in 1998.[4]
- Lauren Jeans Co.: The casual version of Lauren Ralph Lauren. Denim and casual basics available at Ralphlauren.com and in department stores.
USPA is not associated with Ralph Lauren. [edit] Clothing for men and women - RLX: A technical sports apparel line, focusing on clothing and outerwear built for outdoor sports such as tennis, golf, skiing, sailing, and hiking, launched in 1998. Primarily distributed through RalphLauren.com
- Polo Sport: A discontinued line of casual sports clothing that was introduced for men in 1993 and women in 1996. It was retired in 2005 and ultimately replaced by RLX as well as the Golf and Tennis lines. The Polo Sport fragrance lines continue to exist as remants of this label (see Fragrances below).
- Double RL (Written "RRL"): Ralph's vintage American sportswear line is inspired by his "RRL" ranch in Colorado. The line consist of the high-quality (and highly popular) denim, as well other casual sportswear with a vintage flair. Found mostly in RRL Stores and the occasional Ralph Lauren Boutique, this line of clothing is often immersed in a selection of hand-selected vintage clothing, accessories and art chosen specifically to emphasize the RRL lifestyle signature to Ralph Lauren.
- Rugby Ralph Lauren: A brand launched in 2004 focusing on collegiate apparel with a similar look to the pricier Polo and Blue Label brands. Sold at signature Rugby stores and through rugby.com. Not available at RL stores.
- Tennis: Sports clothing for tennis players. Special collections for the US Open tournaments (see Sports sponsorship below).
- Polo Jeans Co.: Denim inspired jeans and sportswear line. Discontinued in 2006, relaunched for European distribution in 2009.[6]
- Pink Pony: A charity line of sportswear and accessories all carrying a pink Polo pony. A portion of the proceeds benefit cancer research. Predominantly for women, the line also includes polo shirts for men.
- Create your own: A special collection of shirts, polos and hats as part of the Polo or Blue Label lines that can be monogrammed and individually arranged in terms of color and embroidery. Available at ralphlauren.com since 2003.
[edit] Clothing for children - Ralph Lauren Children and Baby: Subdivided into Boys (sizes 2-7 and 8-20), Girls (sizes 2-6x and 7-16) and Baby (Layette and Infant, newborn to 24 months, boys and girls). Available at RL stores, ralphlauren.com and some department stores.
some childrens wear includes: shoes, clothing and accessories - Ralph Lauren Home: A luxury home furnishings and accessories line, including furniture (manufactured by Henredon furniture company), fabrics, tabletop, decorative accessories, bedding, bath, and paint. Sold to the trade and in Ralph Lauren stores, the company's online store as well as in select department stores.
- Lauren Home: An upscale home brand, carries only tabletop, accessories, bedding, and bath. Sold primarily through department stores.
- Ralph: A low priced and low thread-count line of urban bedding and bath towels available in the mid-1990s and subsequently discontinued.
- Ralph Lauren Paint: Featuring more than 500 colors, interior paint is offered under this label at ralphlauren.com, The Home Depot and selected specialty retailers.
[edit] Luxury Standard Ralph Lauren Boutiques pride themselves on their adherence to the unique and insurmountable aesthetic and lifestyle of Ralph himself, so it was no surprise when they introduced a selection of antique and vintage pieces displayed in tandem with the lifestyle apparel and accessories that define the brand. Most of the boutiques, especially the larger flagship stores, carry some of the unique pieces chosen by a team of specialists who travel the world in search of rare items with a distinct Ralph Lauren spirit. In 2009 a "GIft Vault" website was launched by the company to display the Brand's selection of its finest and most unique vintage and antique pieces found in its stores worldwide. The three collections, "Estate", "Americana", and "Hollywood Glamour" clearly define the styles of not only the vintage and antique pieces selected for the Gift Vault, but also of the lifestyles of the Ralph Lauren clothing itself. In 2009, Ralph Lauren partnered with the Richemont Group to develop three lines of luxury watches under the Ralph Lauren name[7]. The Stirrup Collection, The Slim Classique Collection, and the Sporting Collection represent a diverse range of high-end watches that continue the Ralph Lauren esthetic into the luxury horology sector. The watches start in price at $8,000.00 and climb as high as $64,000.00. The watches are sold exclusively through the Ralph Lauren Flagship Mansion in New York and will soon be showcased in the new Greenwich, CT Store. The exclusivity, Richemont technical sophistication, and classic Ralph Lauren design all contribute to the allure and value of these watches. [edit] Other brands The following labels are not immediately recognizable by the consumer as belonging to Polo Ralph Lauren, Inc.: - Club Monaco: The brand’s signature clean and modern style gives classics an update through great design and a current sensibility. Club Monaco is the lifestyle destination for today’s urban professional.
- American Living: Classic, all-American collections including apparel for men, women and children as well as home sold exclusively at department store retailer JCPenney since January 2008.
[edit] Fragrances Polo Ralph Lauren corporation has launched various fragrances and related body care products for men and women since 1978. The products are manufactured under license by L'Oreal. Ralph Lauren Fragrances | Men's fragrances | Women's fragrances | Men's and women's fragrances | - Polo (1978)
- Chaps and Chaps Musk (1979 and 1985)
- Monogram (1985) [discontinued]
- Polo Crest (1991) [discontinued]
- Extreme Polo Sport (1998) [discontinued]
- Polo Blue (2002)
- Romance Silver (2003)
- Purple Label (2003)
- Polo Black (2005)
- Double Black (2006)
- Polo Explorer (2007)
- Polo Modern Reserve (2008)
| - Lauren (1978)
- Ralph (2000) and its variations: Cool, Hot, Rocks, Wild (2004, 2006, 2006, 2008)
- Glamorous (2001)
- Ralph Lauren Blue (2003)
- Lauren Style (2004)
- Pure Turquoise (2005)
- Notorious (2008)
- Love (2008)
| - Safari (women 1990, men 1992)
- Polo Sport (1996)
- Romance (women 1998, men 1999)
| In 2006, Polo Ralph Lauren became the first Official Outfitter of Wimbledon, redesigning the outfits for ball boys and girls, line and court judges. The Wimbledon logo was adapted for this purpose. Ralph Lauren's Polo brand and style was used and a range of clothing for men and women was launched on June 26.[8] In 2005, Polo Ralph Lauren and the USTA signed a four year partnership making Polo the official apparel sponsor of the US Open throughout 2008. All ball boys and girls, and on-court officials, were dressed in specially designed Ralph Lauren apparel.[9] The company also sponsors US professional golfers Tom Watson, Jonathan Byrd, Davis Love III, and Luke Donald; as well as LPGA golfer Morgan Pressel.[10] In April 2008, Polo Ralph Lauren won the U.S. Olympic contract to outfit the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. [11] Roots Canada Ltd. had announced its ending as the official clothing supplier to the US Olympic team on April 7, 2008. In July 2009, it was announced Polo Ralph Lauren will continue its partnership with the U.S. Olympic team for the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics.[12] [edit] References - Appelbaum, Michael (2005-03-14), "Tennis Apparel, Anyone?", Brandweek: 40
- "Polo Ralph Lauren to Sponsor Morgan Pressel", Business Wire: 1, 2006-03-15
[edit] External links | L'Oréal Group | | | Cosmetics Branch | | Professional Products Division | | | | Consumer Products Division | | | | Luxury Products Division | | | | Active Cosmetics Division | | | | | The Body Shop | | | | Dermatology Branch | | | |
