Ralph Lauren - (1939 - ) American fashion designer Ralph Lauren was born Ralph Lifshitz in the Bronx, New York City.  From an early age Ralph Lauren worked after school to earn money to buy expensive suits earning him a reputation for style.  In the sixties Ralph Lauren dropped out of college but then later in the same decade created the 'Polo' label necktie business.  Today the Ralph Lauren fashion empire is a multi-million pound business.