EOC Week 3: Chapter Quesions

Chapter Questions

1. Ralph Lauren is defiantly a designer. He is the epitome of a great designer. Not only does he create beautiful clothing, but he has created a lifestyle for his brand. “ What Michelangelo is to the Sistine Chapel, what Carl Sanberg was to the American iambic pentameter, and what Scott Fitzgerald was to grammar of the American romance story, Ralph Lauren is to American Style.”(Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, Pg.50) He started with clothing and then created an empire for himself. He has branched out into many different aspects of fashion and design. He wanted to create products for his customers that they could use in every aspect of their lives. I believe him to be an amazing designer because he successful operates so many different types of projects. He was one of the firs creators of lifestyle branding. I think he will continue to be a successful designer for many years to come.
2. “He first worked for Brooks Brother in 1905”(Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg. 37) In the 60’s Ralph took a job with a tie manufacture. Sources say that ralph was an average salesman but he really knew how to stand out by the way he dressed. “He believed that by dressing in a particular style allowed him to gain sales and a reputation,” (Brand Story, Joseph Hancock, pg.37) The tie manufacture gave Ralph a chance to put out his own line of ties. Because Ralph was smart and trend forecasted he created ties that were an inch thicker than the ties that were being sold at that time. To Ralph brand image was everything. He created his line called Polo. The big knotted ties became very popular, and Ralph began to start creating new products that would be added to his line. Since then he has become a very popular designer for not only fashion but many other types of products.
3. Currently Ralph runs many divisions under his name. Mine favorite division happens to be his home good lines. I really like the styles and patterns of his beading especially. I really like how his home goods match well with his clothing. It is not necessarily my style but I do appreciate the original American Western style that Ralph has created.
4. Ralph created an empire by continuous building on top of existing products. If something was messed up in his line he would change it. The book talked about a time when there was a huge sizing issue with his female polo t-shirts. Ralph took care of the issue and then decided to come out with a whole new line of female ready-to-wear. He keeps reinventing his brand to keep himself current. I think this is very smart of him. If you keep releasing new products you’re always in the media and your always in the back of people’s minds! There are only a few designers in the fashion industry that have branded themselves as well as Ralph has. If I had to pick someone to compare him to I would choose Tommy Hilfiger.