For over 50 years, Ralph Lauren has been an innovator, having considerable influence on the American fashion landscape. He’s had a major say in the way people dress and the way fashion is advertised and celebrated. The first item he designed was a striped necktie in 1967. Flash forward 50 years, and the company has over 8 different brands including Polo Ralph Lauren. Lauren added “Polo” to the front of his name because he believed that the sport represented the style and class of his clothing line. The iconic polo player logo was then introduced in 1971, becoming one of the most recognizable logos in the world.