7 Interesting Things About the American Designer
Ralph Lauren’s Storied Life Is Getting the Documentary Treatment. the Fashion Designer and American Icon Is the Subject of Hbo’s Latest Documentary, “Very...
Ralph Lauren’s storied life is getting the documentary treatment.
The fashion designer and American icon is the subject of HBO’s latest documentary, “Very Ralph,” which chronicles Lauren’s life and career from his start growing up in the Bronx to building a lifestyle business that celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
The documentary includes commentary from Lauren’s family, including his wife Ricky, brother Jerry and children Andrew, David and Dylan, as well as clips from home movies, giving a thorough look at Lauren’s life.
Read More: ‘Very Ralph’ Premieres at the Met
“Very Ralph” spotlights little-known details about Lauren, but before the documentary’s premiere on Nov. 12 WWD took a look at some facts to brush up on before watching.
Scroll on to read seven facts you should know about Ralph Lauren before watching HBO’s “Very Ralph.”
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1. He Started His Career Selling Ties at the Empire State Building
Ralph Lauren began his career in fashion as a tiemaker, selling wide ties out of a drawer in a showroom at the Empire State Building. Lauren celebrated the brand’s 50th anniversary last year by going back to his tiemaking roots, teaming with The Rake for a limited-edition collection featuring 10 of Lauren’s favorite ties from earlier in his career.
In an interview with WWD, Lauren reflected on the start of his career, stating: “It was a tie that started me on this journey 50 years ago. My ties were different, made out of fabrics that I found myself. They were handmade and, in those early days, Ricky and her parents would sew in the labels. I worked out of a drawer in the Empire State Building, and then I took them to the stores myself wearing my jeans, driving my vintage Morgan. Those ties were more than just ties, they were the beginning of a world and a way of living that I dreamed of and believed in.”
Here, Lauren is pictured at his former 550 Seventh Avenue showroom.
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2. He Changed His Last Name From Lifshitz to Lauren
Before making a name for himself in the fashion industry, Ralph Lauren went by his birth name, Ralph Lifshitz. The designer was teased constantly in school over his name, and later decided to change it to Lauren after his brother Jerry presented the idea when they were teenagers.
“It was a tough name to live with,” Jerry Lauren said in the documentary. “I never wanted to escape my origins.”
Here, Lauren is photographed in 1985.
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Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
