This brand was launched back in 1967 when Ralph Lauren was able to get a $50,000 loan. Before launching the designer label, he actually worked for Brooks Brothers. Then in 1968, he opened a line of ties for men. After a year, e opened a boutique store that was within Bloomingdale's, a Manhattan department store. The first women's collection of the label was launched in 1971, along with the first standalone store located in Beverly Hills, California. After ten years, the brand was able to go global with the opening of its first international store on Bond Street in London.

The brand now designs and produces clothing, fragrances, accessories, furniture, along with the restaurant RL located in Chicago. The flagship store is on Madison Avenue, where the former Rhinelander Mansion stood in New York City. The other flagship stores could be found in Chicago, London, East Hampton, Miami, Palm Beach, Milan and Tokyo.

Ever since Polo, the first brand of Ralph Lauren was in 1967, they have expanded to give room for the wide variety of luxury brands for clothing for men and . For men's clothing, these would include: the purple label, which was launched in 1994 and is also the signature of Ralph Lauren, making it the highest end men's line; the black Label, which offers a more modern and Italian cut in its suits, dress shirts and sportswear; Polo Ralph Lauren, which is his first brand created for men, and the most widely available - spanning from accessories to tailored clothing to sportswear; Polo Denim which is a relaunching of their Polo Jeans Co. line; Lauren Ralph Lauren; and Chaps.