At Luxe Models we want to take
some time this week to mourn the (career) passing of one of the greatest names
in fashion; Ralph Lauren.
Building the brand
Ralph Lauren is most famous for
building the fashion brand that bears his name, “Ralph Lauren,” from the ground
up. The now-76 year old design genius first founded his company in 1968. Back
then it was called “Polo Fashions,” and Lauren devoted it to popularising preppy
style.
In 1972 he designed the brand’s
now signature short-sleeved shirts, which boast a logo of a polo player. In
1989 Lauren released a knit sweater that featured the US flag and this was a
game changer. In the years since, according to the BBC,
Ralph Lauren became a symbol of old-school preppy American fashion,
particularly noted for its colourful collared shirts and knit sweaters.
Stepping down
With a legacy like that, how do
you know when it’s time to step down? Apparently Lauren decided that the time
to step down has now come, as the Daily
Mail has recently reported that he has announced that his retirement as the
head of Ralph Lauren.
Yet he isn’t stepping aside completely. Reports have confirmed that
Lauren will stick around to oversee the company's creative look and strategy.
Considering the fact that this is the man who turned Ralph Lauren into a £5
billion business, they probably begged him to stay on in some form or another!
Lauren’s replacement
So now the obvious question is,
who has Lauren hired to replace him? The designer revealed that Stefan
Larsson, currently the global president of Gap’s Old Navy division, has been
asked to step into his shoes. Under Larsson’s leadership, Old Navy’s sales
increased 8% throughout 2014, turning the division into Gap’s largest business.
Lauren welcomed Larsson to the
role, saying: “My job is to think always about the future of our company and
how to move it forward. Stefan Larsson is exceptionally talented, and he will
bring our company a fresh and exciting global perspective.”
Acknowledging greatness
With the passing of one fashion
genius, comes the arrival of another. Luxe Models is sure that Larsson will do
a fantastic job, but let’s take a moment to think of his predecessor. Ralph
Lauren developed a brand which brought preppy American fashion into the global
mainstream, and that’s no mean feat!
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