The shopping experience at a spacious Ralph Lauren outlet (aka “factory”) is equally as enjoyable, if not sometimes better, than that of the department store. A quintessential and ubiquitous aspect of the brand, hitting an RL outlet means the possibility of finding some major deals. And if you’re not in search of a full-look, a smart shopper would stock up on Polo socks and underwear at the very least. At an RL factory store you can get the Hamptons look just by hitting the highway. “I don’t design clothes, I design dreams,” said Ralph Lauren, apparently.
The word “polo” comes from the the Balti word for “ball,” and there isn’t much American about it at all. It is rumoured that Ralph discovered the Polo logo when he visited Brioni in Italy in the 60s. The menswear brand had polo players printed on the lining of their jackets, because polo was the sport of the wealthy at the time. Ralph Lauren asked to license it for the American market, and they let him. Ralph convinced the president of the manufacturing company for which he worked—Beau Brummell—to let him release his own personal line of ties. Donna KaranDonna Karan is an American fashion designer and is the creator of the Donna Karan New York clothing line.
Wanting to leverage his interest in sports, the designer opted for Polo when it came to naming his eponymous label. What Lauren—nee Lifshitz—started with a simple necktie, eventually transformed into an entire wardrobe. The SSENSE editors unpack the ABCs of the Polo Ralph Lauren legacy. Ralph Lauren has always stood for providing quality products, creating worlds and inviting people to take part in our dream. In 2011, a selection from his car collection was exhibited in Paris.
Ralph Lauren Corporation designs, markets, and distributes lifestyle products in North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company’s restaurant concepts include The Polo Bar in New York City; RL Restaurant in Chicago; Ralph’s in Paris; and Ralph’s Coffee concept. Ralph Lauren Corporation sells its products to department stores, specialty stores, and golf and pro shops, as well as directly to consumers through its retail stores, concession-based shop-within-shops, and its digital commerce sites.
All content including photographs and images are the property of Generation Lighting or used with permission. No right is granted to copy, modify, reproduce, translate, or create any derivative work by any means whether electronic polo dress shirts or mechanical. Rather than implementing traditional means of production, Ralph Lauren encourages consumers to create new artistic and individualized pieces by expressing how they have versatility for each and every customer.