“There is a way of living that has a certain grace and beauty,” says Lauren. “It is not a constant race for what is next, rather, an appreciation of that which has come before.”
Much as he appreciates those who have come before him, Lauren hopes that his Polo collection will be remembered for some time to come. He might not have become a rabbi like his mother wanted, but he has managed to become one of the best-selling American designers of all time. How did this boy from the Bronx do it?
Excitement: Lauren did not just take chances with his clothes, although his pleated trousers and tweed jackets for women did that too. Lauren wanted to make everything about his brand exciting. From the way the clothes fell on the body to the way they were presented in stores and on runways, Lauren knew that if his brand was going to be remembered, he had to give customers an experience they would not soon forget.
Grit: His mother was disappointed in him for not becoming a rabbi. Bloomingdales rejected him for being too daring in his designs. In his early years, it seems as if no one was on side with Lauren. But he did not care. He stood his ground, followed his passion, and designed how he wanted to design. That was how he made a name for himself.
Consistency: “What matters the most to me are clothes that are consistent and accessible,” says Lauren. “I believe in clothes that last, that are not dated in a season. The people who wear my clothes don't think of them as fashion.” In the hopes of building a lasting brand, Lauren focused on creating clothes that were exciting, stylish, and consistent all in one.
Sensibility: Whether it was his children, the interns working at his company, or the customers in his stores, Lauren made sure to listen to what the young people were saying about fashion tastes and trends. He was his best customer, but he did not want to lose the others.
Discipline: With no previous experience and no degree, Lauren knew he had to work twice as hard as others to achieve success. By going to business school at night and working retail during the day, Lauren acquired a unique skill set that helped propel him to the top.
“Back then when I mentioned Polo most people would look at me funny and say ‘You mean like Marco Polo?’” recalls Lauren. “I’m forever grateful that the company then through now has always had a substance of great dimensions and the potential to grow on a vast number of levels with attitudes and ideals shaped by my initial dream to express myself.”
Now, nearing 70 years old, Lauren insists he is still just getting started and that his fashion empire still has leaps and bounds to go. “I’ve always believed one could live many lives through the way we dress and the places we travel to, even if just in our imagination,” he says. “The world is open to us, and each day is an occasion to reinvent ourselves.”
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